HAL considering going totally non-smoking?

[momofmeg]

Because the policy is constantly being reviewed as trends in society change. If levels stay about the same... no huge need for further restrictions. If suddenly 99% of those forms on every ship start saying "non smoking" and stayed that way for the forseeable future... Bet you'd see some changes.

 

How do you propose, if these surveys are removed because they create "false hope" as you put it, (although I've previously identified many changes these forms have helped bring about) that HAL find out the opinions of the guests on board with regard to this topic?

 

Well dutch, you do realize that the 70% or so who vote for no smoking on balconies at some point will defect to other lines, don't you? Just as the smokers from Celebrity have defected to HAL. So, of course, those forms will be higher for smoking, as HAL continues to lose their non smoking clientele.

[kakalina]

Cool beans momofmeg. I never thought of that. Isn't it wonderful that there is a line for everyones needs and desires.

[suse]

Well dutch, you do realize that the 70% or so who vote for no smoking on balconies at some point will defect to other lines, don't you? Just as the smokers from Celebrity have defected to HAL. So, of course, those forms will be higher for smoking, as HAL continues to lose their non smoking clientele.

You make some very good points. I forget who it was who coined HAL as "Ashtray of the Seas", but we definitely saw more smokers this past December than ever before on any cruiseline.

[COLLEYBERRY]

If Hal were to ban smoking in cabins and on balconies how far in advance would they have to give their passengers the heads up.

 

Does anyone know how Celebrity broke the news?

 

.Many have their cruises booked months even a year or more in advance.

Can't imagine they would be too happy with a rule change after booking

[m steve]

that the smoke you notice on your balcony is going to give you lung cancer. Maybe if you are in a confined space you could have breathing problems which is why many areas ban smoking in bars as well as restaurants but smelling a cigar por pipe from another balcony can't be doing any harm and there's all that smoke residue from the stacks on the ship. I have notice ash from them on our balcony. Should they ban oil fired engines and make all cruise ships nuclear?

[donh1]

Nothing creates lounge chair vacancies quicker than being down wind of a pipe or cigar smoker. You just settle into one of those much in demand seats and sure enough someone plunks there ass down and begins smoking. You can't say a word because they are conforming to the existing policy. I am very confident that many people have experienced this. As you can see our next booked cruise is with Celebrity. That's just one more vacancy on HAL for smokers. If they are number crunching based on their survey they should be careful....

[hulamoon]

I was booking my first HAL cruise before the announcement was made about smoking restrictions on Celebrity. I recall many nasty "Dear Celebrity. Dear RCCL Now I am going to HAl and Princess." Guest were allowed to move bookings and many said they would do that.

 

I wasn't completely sure they actually did this until my TA confirmed she has been doing cross booking based on the policy.

 

I recall feeling that the poor guests must realize it is only a matter of time before HAL restricts too. As Dutch pointed out they made some change, but I feel I am still booking the wrong hallway and it is stupid to need a rescue inhaler to cruise on HAL. Our worst experience though was my first cruise in an OV on Princess. 14 days with smoke seeping around me, I was sick enough to see the doctor. I have no idea if it comes out the walls from previous smokers or my cabin attendant had parties while I was at dinner and smoked in that room but it was awful. After that we always got balconies to have quick access to air, but as we know that strategy can back fire.

 

There must be some reason it costs $250 to clean a room from a smoker on Carnival and RCCL. And if it does take that much work, it is time to make at least the spa cabins smoke free.

[lettienets]

I was on the new Carnival Dream transatlantic in Nov and the smoking areas were less than usual. I had a no smoking spa room. The casino restricts smoking to one area and it wasn't that bad in there, good ventilation.

There was an older demographic on this cruise so maybe a lot of older cruiser have quit and that is why the smoking wasn't so bad as other Carnival cruises with younger people. The Piano Bar was terrible with smoke and it wreaked down the hall.

[usha]

If Hal were to ban smoking in cabins and on balconies how far in advance would they have to give their passengers the heads up.

 

Does anyone know how Celebrity broke the news?

 

.Many have their cruises booked months even a year or more in advance.

Can't imagine they would be too happy with a rule change after booking

Celebrity announced the new policy in April, 2008.

It became effective in Dec, 2008.

[DutchByAssociation]

Well dutch, you do realize that the 70% or so who vote for no smoking on balconies at some point will defect to other lines, don't you? Just as the smokers from Celebrity have defected to HAL. So, of course, those forms will be higher for smoking, as HAL continues to lose their non smoking clientele.

 

The questions also include "Will you sail again with HAL" or something to that affect. So the surveys include the information on if people are being "lost" or "defecting" as some have said

[Zappa Fan]

DBA: You're making entirely too much sense for much of this crowd. ;)

[DizzyDallasDi]

DBA: You're making entirely too much sense for much of this crowd. ;)

 

I was just thinking the same thing. :D

[Copper10-8]

Dutch got his "you know what" together!;)

[Himself]

I abandoned smoking on June 9, 1992 at 9:40 AM.

[DizzyDallasDi]

I abandoned smoking on June 9, 1992 at 9:40 AM.

 

The must be a very memorable event for you (and rightly so)....I don't remember the time of day my kids were born, just the date. But, I can tell you to almost the minute how long each labor was. :D

[usha]

I abandoned smoking on June 9, 1992 at 9:40 AM.

You wised up a lot sooner than I did, Himself!:D

I didn't abandon smoking until June 28, 2000 at 7:30 pm.

[Himself]

I was a two and a half pack smoker each day. I developed ulsers and the Doctor ordered me to quit. What he told me scared me to death. I am glad I quit. The first thing I lost was the cough.

[Jade13]

The questions also include "Will you sail again with HAL" or something to that affect. So the surveys include the information on if people are being "lost" or "defecting" as some have said

 

HAL has lost us for what will be 4 cruises between our last and next cruise on HAL due to poor itineraries compared to other lines in the 7-14 night category. Their itineraries just repeat year after year and HAL needs to know there are a lot of folks who want to go to new ports.

 

The fact that other lines have more limited smoking is a bonus.

[Himself]

I would tell you that somepeople cannot go with out smoking. My sister is one of those people.

[HamOp]

I abandoned smoking on June 9, 1992 at 9:40 AM.

 

Could you please be a little more specific? You didn't give us the seconds :D

[Zappa Fan]

I smoke a pack per week during regular "life". When on vacation, or overnight at a friends, all bets are off...

 

That's why I'll continue to book HAL and enjoy my balcony. (along with my vacation-only cigar smoking husband) Sorry neighbors...it's our vacation too!

 

BTW: AM looking into Oceania because of their "Pearls of the Caribbean" itinerary.... HEADS UP, HAL... Jade is correct... time for some change! ;)

[sachiboo]

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=61359

 

Hmmmmm.... going to take a look at what you've booked! :)

 

If you haven't seen this review, you'll enjoy it. I'm thinking that the Marina looks good in the future.

 

I still adore HAL, btw, but am willing to cut down on the ciggies in order to try Oceania.

 

Happy Friday!

 

Thank you for the link. I certainly enjoyed reading this well written review. I'm happy to say that we made the right choice.:D Yes, the Marina has excellent itineraries.

 

Have a good weekend.:)

[cruz chic]

I would tell you that somepeople cannot go with out smoking. My sister is one of those people.

My dad is a person without one bit of willpower and he quit years ago. You have to want to do and clearly some don't. This thread is really something else however. I find it really insulting that unless you agree with some of the smokers on this thread you are an idiot that doesn't "get it". That's a great way to get people to sympathize with you :rolleyes:.

[arabrab]

I would tell you that somepeople cannot go with out smoking. My sister is one of those people.

 

Well, and I know people who can't drink without getting drunk and puking, but that doesn't mean that the rest of us should have to put up with the stench from their vomit. Smokers ought to realize that to a lot of non-smokers, the smell of their smoke is just as disgusting.

[kakalina]

My dad is a person without one bit of willpower and he quit years ago. You have to want to do and clearly some don't. This thread is really something else however. I find it really insulting that unless you agree with some of the smokers on this thread you are an idiot that doesn't "get it". That's a great way to get people to sympathize with you :rolleyes:.

 

I find it really insulting that unless you agree with the anit smokers on this thread you are an idiot that doesn't "get it".:rolleyes: