Smoking Policy Revisited

[serendipity1499]

On the Veendam in Aug, we received the same old smoking survey, that was there four years ago!

 

Not to be rude, but the only clear answer is Never. At least not on a Holland America Line ship at this time.

 

Joanie

 

Joanie are you saying that HAL will never change their smoking policy? If so where does this info come from?

 

Cheers.....:)Betty

[RuthC]

An enclosed indoor space for smoking? Would they just call it the "lung cancer room"?

 

Things (thankfully) have changed since the 50's. I don't see HAL (or anyone else, land or see) rolling out an enclosed indoor space just for smokers.

Apparently you don't know what the Oak Room is.

 

Since no one is required to go into the Oak Room, and since the smoke is ventilated outside and never reaches non-smoking indoor areas, and since people complain about smoke in so many other indoor---and balcony---areas, I would think non-smokers would be petitioning HAL for an Oak Room on every ship.

[GTVCRUISER]

I was on the Rotterdam 2 weeks ago , they had the same smoking questionnaire. They had smoking in part of the Crows Nest and smoking in part of the Retreat area

[KatWag]

We had the questionaire on the 9/5 Veendam cruise as well. Interestingly I think this was the first cruise I have ever been on that I don't think I smelled a single whiff of smoke the entire cruise. Don't know if that was the crowd, the fact that the Casino was closed most of the trip or what. But I honestly don't remember smelling smoke once the entire trip and I tend to be kind of sensitive to the smell like a lot of ex smokers.

 

K

[IRL_Joanie]

Never, Joanie? Never, at this time. :confused:

What does that mean?

What have your 'sources' told you? Are they in Seattle headquarters?

 

I was responding to the OP about the smoke.

 

"When can I book a balcony suite and be certain that there will be no smoke drifting onto it"

 

That is my Never. As long as I can smoke on my verandah, there will always be the chance of smoking drifting onto another verandah.

 

Joanie

[IRL_Joanie]

On the Veendam in Aug, we received the same old smoking survey, that was there four years ago!

 

 

 

Joanie are you saying that HAL will never change their smoking policy? If so where does this info come from?

 

Cheers.....:)Betty

 

No Betty. I was saying that the OP can Never be guaranteed no smoke will drift onto their verandah, as long as HAL allows smoking on the verandahs.

 

Joanie

[retiredkid]

Just got off the originally Bermuda-bound Veendam on Sunday.

Revised itinerary Charelston, Port Canaveral, Nassau. I only state the itinerary because it added casino time. And the casino was (pretty much) the only place that I noticed the smoking. There was only the occasional person smoking on the promenade deck. And it would have been easy to move to another spot if it bothered us. There always seemed to be empty non-reserved chairs. The Lido deck was much the same. Only the occasional smoker.

We did not have a balcony, so I cannot comment on that.

[serendipity1499]

No Betty. I was saying that the OP can Never be guaranteed no smoke will drift onto their verandah, as long as HAL allows smoking on the verandahs.

 

Joanie

 

Oh Ok...thought you had some new inside info..;) Understand now...Thanks...

 

cheers.....:)Betty

[zalusky]

Are there any recent stats on the prevalence of smoking by cruise line.

I have done 6 cruises and recently had a 2 year break. We just got off the Pearl and Smoking was definitely less than I remember.

 

I haven't done HAL yet but kind of working through the lines.

[sail7seas]

The number of smokers varies cruise to cruise. Generally, it is under 20% smokers on many/most cruises, same as society as a whole.

 

We live in a state where smoking is not permitted in any workplace. Just about everywhere you go is someone's workplace so the only time we are exposed to smoke is on a ship. We just left Maasdam and have to say on our b-to-b's, we hardly ever got a whiff of smoke. That has not always been the case but we did not have anyone smoking on a veranda near us and it was wonderful.

 

No way to say exactly how many smokers might be on your cruise or even if their cabin would be anywhere near yours, if they would be in the casino etc but for the most part, there are fewer and fewer places smoking is permitted.

[sail7seas]

was responding to the OP about the smoke.

 

"When can I book a balcony suite and be certain that there will be no smoke drifting onto it"

 

That is my Never. As long as I can smoke on my verandah, there will always be the chance of smoking drifting onto another verandah.

 

Joanie

 

 

 

 

Thanks, Joanie

[IRL_Joanie]

Oh Ok...thought you had some new inside info..;) Understand now...Thanks...

 

cheers.....:)Betty

 

I guess I misused the word Never. Sorry about that. I was trying not to be my normal wordy (over wordy) self:)

 

Joanie

[gillianrose]

Are there any recent stats on the prevalence of smoking by cruise line.

 

I have done 6 cruises and recently had a 2 year break. We just got off the Pearl and Smoking was definitely less than I remember.

 

I haven't done HAL yet but kind of working through the lines.

 

If you are a smoker, then it sounds like HAL is the place to be.

 

On the other hand, if you would prefer to enjoy your balcony with no chance of having a smoker nearby, there are much better choices. And if you want a stateroom that has no residual smoke in it, then there are also much better choices.

[gooselace]

If you are a smoker, then it sounds like HAL is the place to be.

 

But with no assurance of where those places will be.

 

On the other hand, if you would prefer to enjoy your balcony with no chance of having a smoker nearby, there are much better choices. And if you want a stateroom that has no residual smoke in it, then there are also much better choices.

 

I have never smoked in my stateroom - didn't think it was permitted and certainly don't think it would be safe as no ashtray is provided. I try to limit my veranda smoking to times when no one seems to be nearby. If I hear a voice I put out my cigarette. With the new metal ashtrays it is extinguished immediately.

[DizzyDallasDi]

I have never smoked in my stateroom - didn't think it was permitted and certainly don't think it would be safe as no ashtray is provided.

 

Just ask your room steward for an ashtray....they're more than happy to bring it to you.

[zalusky]

If you are a smoker, then it sounds like HAL is the place to be.

 

On the other hand, if you would prefer to enjoy your balcony with no chance of having a smoker nearby, there are much better choices. And if you want a stateroom that has no residual smoke in it, then there are also much better choices.

 

I am not a smoker and really enjoy clean air.

 

When we did our Panama Canal cruise on Celebrity in 2004 it was pretty much everywhere and I just hated going to the shows in the club lounges.

 

2005 wasn't too much better.

 

We then did a couple of shorty princess cruises and a 10 day RCL Hawaii to Vancouver and it was a lot less.

 

On the recently completed coastal NCL cruise I could smell it in some hallways but never really saw it.

 

I realize longer cruises skew older and that people went nuts and ran away from Celebrity. We also have a certain percentage of international passengers which may smoke more.

 

The thing is these are generalizations. In the case of HAL I was curious what recent cruisers experiences were.

[photomikey]

Apparently you don't know what the Oak Room is.

 

Since no one is required to go into the Oak Room, and since the smoke is ventilated outside and never reaches non-smoking indoor areas, and since people complain about smoke in so many other indoor---and balcony---areas, I would think non-smokers would be petitioning HAL for an Oak Room on every ship.

Of course I know what the Oak Room is.

 

Why would I petition HAL to take public space away from me? I petition them to ban smoking altogether. :-)

 

[cruisin'girl]

Of course I know what the Oak Room is.

 

Why would I petition HAL to take public space away from me? I petition them to ban smoking altogether. :-)

 

There is no loss of public space available to all pax when the Oak Room is an enclosed smoking area. Use it or not, your choice. I may not choose to eat Italian food, but do I insist HAL close Caneletto because I want to sit on that side of the Lido in the evening?

[CtheW0rld]

Apparently you don't know what the Oak Room is.

 

Since no one is required to go into the Oak Room, and since the smoke is ventilated outside and never reaches non-smoking indoor areas, and since people complain about smoke in so many other indoor---and balcony---areas, I would think non-smokers would be petitioning HAL for an Oak Room on every ship.

 

i just looked at some photos of the oak room. looks like a very nice space. i'm going to look up some itineraries for the noordam now. thanks!

[RuthC]

Why would I petition HAL to take public space away from me? I petition them to ban smoking altogether. :-)

That certainly does say it all. :rolleyes: