HAL considering going totally non-smoking?

[twodogmom]

I smoke, and cruise HAL because of their smoking policy. If I didn't smoke & it bothered me I would look at another cruise line. If HAL changes its policy on smoking I will look for another line, or another type vacation.

 

I took a friend with me twice, now I pay a single supplement. I want to enjoy my cruise and smoke in my cabin & veranda or other allowed areas.. There are still many areas I can not smoke in.

 

I was going to go on another cruise line, and they changed their smoking policy, I canceled my reservation, and have not made another with them. I guess I am sick of the non smokers who have a greater choice of non smoking lines trying to change the policy on HAL.

[Mary Ellen]

Just wondering, is there a noticable odor of stale smoke in your cabin when you enter?

We've never had that happen. I don't know if we've just lucked out or whatever procedure HAL uses is just phenomenal.

 

This past cruise is the only one where we've had strong cigarette odors in the corridor near our cabin. I don't know if it was because most others on our hall were British and Canadians or if smokers are moving to HAL as other lines are becoming more restrictive with their smoking policies.

 

Good luck -

[RevNeal]

Sorry - but I just do not agree that staff can manage to eliminate the smell/impact of cigarettes smoked in a room in the 3 or so hours they have to turn it around for the next guest. Certainly not in my experience.

 

I don't know the neutralizing agent that they use, or the additional measures they take, but I KNOW that HAL does it ... and does it well. Despite having a mother who smokes, I am sensitive to smoke -- suffered greatly from it the last time mom and I roomed together for a cruise. I've been in a cabin immediately following someone who was a smoker (I know because that is what I was told by the cabin steward) and, yet, there was not even the faintest whiff. I don't know how they do it, but it works. Additionally, the air filtering system -- when the AC is working -- is fantastic (i.e., smoke doesn't travel along the AC system from cabin to cabin).

 

It seems logical to me that if you are going to ... <"smoke"> (edited RGN) ... the only acceptable place to do so without exposing others who do not wish to share is outside.

 

In gale force winds, with the ship slamming, sheeting rain drowning the deck, and the exterior doors locked?

 

I asked mother about this situation while we were touring sites in San Diego today. She said "IF HAL were to have a dedicated "smoking room," like Liners used to have, where we who want to smoke could go. If that room (lounge) were open 24 hours and had music or TV or some such other in it, I would be happy to refrain from smoking in-cabin if that were the rules."

[JAMS1]

Out of curiosity, not any sort of official capacity... what do you believe that could be done additionally?

 

I know that for those more sensitive to smoke you could consider booking a verandah more forward on the ship next time (less possibilities as far as what you may be downwind of)

 

We no longer book a verandah due to getting smoked out in the past.

I have asthma and just have to stay away from it, on the other hand my father must have his scotch & cigar on his verandah every evening, if he could not, he would not cruise, so we came up with what we thought was a workable solution.

 

Split the ship in 1/2

Port side smokers

When you book state if you are a smoker or not

If non smoker, state if it is bothersome for you or not.

that way folks who have issues being exposed to smoke could be free of worry.

 

If all the smokers are on the port side - those of us who do not want to be exposed to secondhand blowing smoke, could completely avoid the smoke and enjoy our verandahs.

 

Works for me.

[RevNeal]

I guess I am sick of the non smokers who have a greater choice of non smoking lines trying to change the policy on HAL.

 

It's similar to those who don't want to dress formally for formal night demand that HAL change their code to match what other Lines or doing.

[lettienets]

...........HAL is one of the lines which still allows smoking in cabins and on balconies.

Non-smokers either have to adapt/accept, or decide not to cruise HAL. It's the same problem smokers are facing on Celebrity.

If non smokers are 80% and smokers 20% why do the non smokers have to adapt? Smoking is on it's way out and needs to be squeezed out just like it was in office buildings, stores, hotels etc It is a public health issue.

How about no smoking floors to start, non smokers being the majority, should get choice of most floors. More and more hotels are completely non smoking.

Smoking belongs out doors or in well ventilated areas of which the casino is not. (always bad) And I often smell smoke in the halls when you pass someone's stateroom. Horrible.

[Vic The Parrot]

 

I asked mother about this situation while we were touring sites in San Diego today. She said "IF HAL were to have a dedicated "smoking room," like Liners used to have, where we who want to smoke could go. If that room (lounge) were open 24 hours and had music or TV or some such other in it, I would be happy to refrain from smoking in-cabin if that were the rules."

 

 

You should have told her they did ... like on Noordam, and the other rooms on the Vistas.

 

 

Thanks to some idiot on board (or in Seattle) those rooms are gone.

Just can't win ... :rolleyes:

[RuthC]

I asked mother about this situation while we were touring sites in San Diego today. She said "IF HAL were to have a dedicated "smoking room," like Liners used to have, where we who want to smoke could go. If that room (lounge) were open 24 hours and had music or TV or some such other in it, I would be happy to refrain from smoking in-cabin if that were the rules."

A wise woman, speaking the obvious solution. But what has happened to the most of the smoking rooms that HAL has had the last few years?

Gone. Taken away to create space for some other (non-smoking) activity. :rolleyes: Non-smokers should be petitioning HAL to return those rooms, and add them to the ships that didn't have them before.

[RevNeal]

Just wondering, is there a noticable odor of stale smoke in your cabin when you enter?

 

I respect everyone's rights. I was just wondering if it is offensive as some hotel rooms I have walked into?

 

Not in my experience, and I've stayed in cabins that had been occupied by smoker(s) on immediately prior cruises. As I said in an earlier post, I don't know how the cleaning staff does it or what Neutralizing agent they use on the carpets, upholstery, etc. I talked with a steward once who told me that they have a special cleaning regimen that they have to go through for each cabin that has been occupied by smoker(s) on any given cruise. Whatever it is, it works.

[MightyQuinn]

Split the ship in 1/2 ....

If all the smokers are on the port side - those of us who do not want to be exposed to secondhand blowing smoke, could completely avoid the smoke and enjoy our verandahs.

That will likely not work. Many guests select their stateroom on a specific side of the ship, depending on itinerary for best viewing. Sometimes port, other times starboard. Having recently sailed on a ship that was very restrictive about smoking, I think the solution is to allow smoking in very limited areas (outside & inside) of the ship & to expressly forbid it in staterooms & on verandahs.

[Vic The Parrot]

I guess I am sick of the non smokers who have a greater choice of non smoking lines trying to change the policy on HAL.

 

 

You mean "anti" - smokers ...

 

 

 

There is a difference. One doesn't smoke. The other breed just whines about it because they don't like it.

[holacanada]

Duh, simple! HAL COULD begin by eliminating smoking in ALL staterooms and on ALL verandahs, as Celebrity (X) did, effective October 1, 2008!

As well, HAL COULD enclose all the casinos, to seal off the smoke from drifting all over the place around the casinos!

 

Hi !

Are U angry ?

According to recents recherchs, nicotine helps relax...

 

Holacanada will be aboard his private yatch on the Canal in Pompano beach in 42 days, 11 hours, 11 minutes and 57 seconds

Next time with HAL in 246 days, 5 hours, 10 minutes and 31 seconds

[RevNeal]

You should have told her they did ... like on Noordam, and the other rooms on the Vistas.

 

 

Thanks to some idiot on board (or in Seattle) those rooms are gone.

Just can't win ... :rolleyes:

 

Well ... The Oak Room is still aboard the Noordam. :)

[Vic The Parrot]

Well ... The Oak Room is still aboard the Noordam. :)

 

 

For now ...

[JAMS1]

That will likely not work. Many guests select their stateroom on a specific side of the ship, depending on itinerary for best viewing. Sometimes port, other times starboard. Having recently sailed on a ship that was very restrictive about smoking, I think the solution is to allow smoking in very limited areas (outside & inside) of the ship & to expressly forbid it in staterooms & on verandahs.

 

Choose your cabin, but know the Port side is for smokers and if you are a smoker and plan on smoking on your verandah, then you would need to choose a Port cabin.

 

Starboard is smoke free - so if a smoker wants to be on that side of the ship they will have to use the few public smoking areas when they need to smoke.

 

seems simple to me & my father too.

neither of us care which side of the ship we are on.

 

Just want to cruise, wish we did not have to choose to have a cabin with out a verandah.

 

Just off the Diamond, they had some smoke free days in the Casino, but the smoke smell lingered to much on the smoke free days to stay and play for very long, would start coughing pretty quickly & had to leave.

[JAMS1]

the Diamond has a Cigar room my father went to once, few were there and it was pretty smoky.

Was not enjoyable for him. He had wished a few folks had been there to visit with.

No TV or music, just a small darkish room with leather chairs and a window.

[pms4104]

Choose your cabin, but know the Port side is for smokers and if you are a smoker and plan on smoking on your verandah, then you would need to choose a Port cabin.

 

Starboard is smoke free - so if a smoker wants to be on that side of the ship they will have to use the few public smoking areas when they need to smoke.

 

seems simple to me & my father too.

neither of us care which side of the ship we are on.

 

Just want to cruise, wish we did not have to choose to have a cabin with out a verandah.

 

Just off the Diamond, they had some smoke free days in the Casino, but the smoke smell lingered to much on the smoke free days to stay and play for very long, would start coughing pretty quickly & had to leave.

And if there aren't enough smokers to fill the port side cabins? Or, the starboard cabin categories fill and close early ... other non-smokers will be relegated to port side cabins?

 

If indeed 20% smoking vs 80 % non is accurate ... a whole side of the ship seems to be an extraordinary allocation of smoking cabins.

[pms4104]

By some accounts here, HAL has been handing out that survey for 4 years. At this point, HAL should have enough statistical evidence to make a reasoned decision about their onboard smoking policy or HAL should stop handing out that darn survey. The survey creates the impression that changes are being considered and, if any sort of changes are not in the works, then HAL should stop asking opinions.

[hulamoon]

When I cruised last on the Eurodam an engineer on the ship told me the smoke I smelled does move between rooms, some days it was worse than others, but I ended up with an ozone machine in the room that I used each time we left. I do not understand why he would have told me that if it wasn't true. The scent of smoke on clothes hanging in my closet that are never worn is proof enough for me.

[Terpnut]

ALL of the cruise lines are considering going smoke free. They will keep considering it until they are absolutely convinced that doing so will not bankrupt them.

 

Current surveys tell us that 20% of American cruisers are smokers. If you were trying to manage a major cruise line in today's economy, would you risk losing 20% of your clients and hope/pray/guess that an equal number of non-smokers would instantly replace them?

The cruise lines don't risk losing anything near 20% of their American passengers. Probably only a fraction of smoking passengers would actually elect not to cruise anymore.

 

However when you add international passengers (who are much more likely to smoke), then you have a proportionally higher risk of customer loss.

 

So if every passenger was North American and thus only 20% were smokers, then the cruise lines might have already made all their ships smoke-free by now. Unfortunately, their other international customers are much heavier smokers and that's a bigger risk and problem.

 

And one more thing: the most important reason for eliminating smoking on cruise ships is to reduce the risk of fire--the most significant danger to passenger and crew safety on the high seas. So banning smoking is not just a personal choice and air quality issue--it's a major safety issue.

[MightyQuinn]

seems simple to me & my father too.

neither of us care which side of the ship we are on.

But many do care & intentionally choose a particular side of the ship.

 

For example, on a westbound transAtlantic, many people will prefer to be port side for maximum sun exposure while on an eastbound transAtlantic, they will want starboard. Or on a South America sailing around Cape Horn, many people will choose port for maximum scenic viewing when traveling from Valpo to Rio but starboard if going in the opposite direction. Both smokers & non-smokers who want to select a cabin on a particular side of the ship would be equally unhappy with this as a potential solution.

[RuthC]

Well ... The Oak Room is still aboard the Noordam. :)

Yes, it is. And when a room was needed for the VIP party, where was it held? Was it in the non-smoking Crow's Nest? No. It was in the Oak Room, and that venue was turned into a non-smoking room for that time.

Again, taking away one of the few smoking areas.

[RuthC]

By some accounts here, HAL has been handing out that survey for 4 years. At this point, HAL should have enough statistical evidence to make a reasoned decision about their onboard smoking policy or HAL should stop handing out that darn survey. The survey creates the impression that changes are being considered and, if any sort of changes are not in the works, then HAL should stop asking opinions.

Did you miss the post detailing the cutbacks in smoking areas that took place just a few months ago?

Appears to me that a decision, and changes, were made.

[Terpnut]

But many do care & intentionally choose a particular side of the ship.

 

For example, on a westbound transAtlantic, many people will prefer to be port side for maximum sun exposure while on an eastbound transAtlantic, they will want starboard. Or on a South America sailing around Cape Horn, many people will choose port for maximum scenic viewing when traveling from Valpo to Rio but starboard if going in the opposite direction. Both smokers & non-smokers who want to select a cabin on a particular side of the ship would be equally unhappy with this as a potential solution.

And again, these are not solutions but rather accommodations. The only solution to improving passenger safety from ship fires and air quality is to ban smoking altogether.

[MightyQuinn]

And again, these are not solutions but rather accommodations. The only solution to improving passenger safety from ship fires and air quality is to ban smoking altogether.

I agree! I was pointing out that assigning sides as smoking or smoke-free is not even a viable accommodation.