New HAL smoking policy

[1 HappyCruiser]

Thank You so much!! Compromise is the greatest problem I believe. I, as stated many times, will be happy as long as I am allowed to smoke on my verandah:) That is a great compromise in my opinion:)

 

I do not smoke in any public area except for the Aft Lido section so no one has to worry unless they decide even that is not good enough for them. But since I seldom go up there anymore....

 

Joanie

 

For a person who can be hospitalized as easily as yourself from just the odor of perfume I would think that smoke would be the last thing you would want clogging your lungs. :rolleyes::rolleyes:

[garydm]

This is a change that is irritating to smokers and non smokers. As a non smoker, this makes the situation even worse for balcony cabins as pointed out. I guess we switch to non balcony, non suite cabins, should we book with HAL in the future. Better chance we will book with one of the lines with more restrictive smoking policies. We can backfill the vacancies opening up on those lines from smokers flocking to HAL.

 

I guess I filled out all those smoking questionaires for no reason.

 

Gary

[goodearth]

I don't know if it makes it worse. Seemed like we always had the smoke blowing unto our balcony before the change in policy. A while back someone mentioned that there could be a slip stream along the ship (when moving) and the smoke just follows that front to back. That made sense to me and I guess the only remedy for non-smokers would be the first balcony on the ship with fresh air--at least until this policy becomes more restrictive and includes balconies--and I'll add the casino too!!

[HeatherInFlorida]

............................

I just hope this doesn’t start a feud amongst all of us who love HAL and have been able to live together till now.

 

Able to live together, yes ... most of the time. But not feud???:D Not possible. I've never seen as much feuding go on as I see here on these boards and most especially about smoking.

 

For a person who can be hospitalized as easily as yourself from just the odor of perfume I would think that smoke would be the last thing you would want clogging your lungs. :rolleyes::rolleyes:

 

I'm glad you picked up on this because it's something I don't understand. I am sympathetic to the difficulties for smokers these days as there are fewer and fewer places for them to enjoy smoking. And I know how hard it is to quit.

 

But this particular poster continually tells us how she suffers from the smell of perfume, how her lungs are affected, yet she continues to pump smoke into those lungs. So that argument, at least for me, just falls short.

 

With all the smells I encounter every day that I find abhorrent yet cannot control, I will continue to wear Eternity every day for the rest of my life. So I'll try to post the cruises I'll be on so people offended by such a mild scent can steer clear:).

 

The majority of people do not smoke. These threads will always attract those who do. And if I smoked I know how this policy might affect me, but just be glad there are places to smoke at all. Florida is looking forward to being completely smoke-free ... if the plan goes forward people will not be allowed to smoke anywhere in public, either inside or out. So this is the wave of the future, a time when it's possible you can only smoke in the privacy of your own home if you have a free standikng home (as opposed to an apartment).

 

Little by little it will be more difficult for the smoker. I feel for my husband who smokes a pipe. On our last Celebrity cruise he was first confined to a top deck with winds so strong he couldn't light the pipe. But then he was allowed to join cigarette smokers in a more protected area. He ended up very content with that arrangement, made lots of friends and got used to not being able to smoke on our balcony. And I know that for sure because we immediately booked another Solstice cruise:).

 

I'm guessing it's just a matter of time that if smokers want to cruise, their choices will be far more limited. It's just the direction we're going. As a person who has kicked both the smoking and the drinking habit, I honestly do sympathize.

[1 HappyCruiser]

Able to live together, yes ... most of the time. But not feud???:D Not possible. I've never seen as much feuding go on as I see here on these boards and most especially about smoking.

 

 

 

I'm glad you picked up on this because it's something I don't understand. I am sympathetic to the difficulties for smokers these days as there are fewer and fewer places for them to enjoy smoking. And I know how hard it is to quit.

 

But this particular poster continually tells us how she suffers from the smell of perfume, how her lungs are affected, yet she continues to pump smoke into those lungs. So that argument, at least for me, just falls short.

 

With all the smells I encounter every day that I find abhorrent yet cannot control, I will continue to wear Eternity every day for the rest of my life. So I'll try to post the cruises I'll be on so people offended by such a mild scent can steer clear:).

 

The majority of people do not smoke. These threads will always attract those who do. And if I smoked I know how this policy might affect me, but just be glad there are places to smoke at all. Florida is looking forward to being completely smoke-free ... if the plan goes forward people will not be allowed to smoke anywhere in public, either inside or out. So this is the wave of the future, a time when it's possible you can only smoke in the privacy of your own home if you have a free standikng home (as opposed to an apartment).

 

Little by little it will be more difficult for the smoker. I feel for my husband who smokes a pipe. On our last Celebrity cruise he was first confined to a top deck with winds so strong he couldn't light the pipe. But then he was allowed to join cigarette smokers in a more protected area. He ended up very content with that arrangement, made lots of friends and got used to not being able to smoke on our balcony. And I know that for sure because we immediately booked another Solstice cruise:).

 

I'm guessing it's just a matter of time that if smokers want to cruise, their choices will be far more limited. It's just the direction we're going. As a person who has kicked both the smoking and the drinking habit, I honestly do sympathize.

 

I don't normally post on the HAL board since I don't cruise HAL but the smoking conversations here are no different than on Princess. The only reason I've been reading this section is because of the recent smoking changes which seem to have some effect on all the cruise lines if even by the fact that people might migrate here from Princess.

btw- We love Sarasota beach in Fl ever since they went smoke free. No more smoke blowing in your face, no more cigarette butts between your toes. They tried for years to educate the public into keeping the place clean but they finally gave up & declared it smoke free.

[Charles4515]

For a person who can be hospitalized as easily as yourself from just the odor of perfume I would think that smoke would be the last thing you would want clogging your lungs. :rolleyes::rolleyes:

 

It certainly is a contradiction.......

[donh1]

A step in the right direction. I too believe it is only a matter of time before cigarette smoking is banned on balconies. It always bothered me when people on these boards suggested that deep cleaning the room was a viable solution. Now the cabin stewards can divide their time amongst their assigned cabins rather than cleaning up after a select group.

I still believe HAL has really dragged their feet making this decision. It should have been done years ago.

[Cruising-along]

It certainly is a contradiction.......

 

Indeed....

 

Right now I'm relieved that we don't have a balcony booked on our next HAL cruise. I would much rather they allowed smoking in the cabins than on the balconies. But then how would they regulate that, how would they really know if someone isn't sneaking smokes in their cabin?

 

I'm not a rabid anti-smoker, but I am disappointed with HAL today. :(

[IRL_Joanie]

Able to live together, yes ... most of the time. But not feud???:D Not possible. I've never seen as much feuding go on as I see here on these boards and most especially about smoking.

 

 

 

I'm glad you picked up on this because it's something I don't understand. I am sympathetic to the difficulties for smokers these days as there are fewer and fewer places for them to enjoy smoking. And I know how hard it is to quit.

 

But this particular poster continually tells us how she suffers from the smell of perfume, how her lungs are affected, yet she continues to pump smoke into those lungs. So that argument, at least for me, just falls short.

 

With all the smells I encounter every day that I find abhorrent yet cannot control, I will continue to wear Eternity every day for the rest of my life. So I'll try to post the cruises I'll be on so people offended by such a mild scent can steer clear:).

 

The majority of people do not smoke. These threads will always attract those who do. And if I smoked I know how this policy might affect me, but just be glad there are places to smoke at all. Florida is looking forward to being completely smoke-free ... if the plan goes forward people will not be allowed to smoke anywhere in public, either inside or out. So this is the wave of the future, a time when it's possible you can only smoke in the privacy of your own home if you have a free standikng home (as opposed to an apartment).

 

Little by little it will be more difficult for the smoker. I feel for my husband who smokes a pipe. On our last Celebrity cruise he was first confined to a top deck with winds so strong he couldn't light the pipe. But then he was allowed to join cigarette smokers in a more protected area. He ended up very content with that arrangement, made lots of friends and got used to not being able to smoke on our balcony. And I know that for sure because we immediately booked another Solstice cruise:).

 

I'm guessing it's just a matter of time that if smokers want to cruise, their choices will be far more limited. It's just the direction we're going. As a person who has kicked both the smoking and the drinking habit, I honestly do sympathize.

 

The point I highlighted above is not just for me for the many others that can suffer severe life threatening allergies perfumes and other scents that those who use scented items are endangering the life of, I post these comments regarding scents in the hopes that some of you will take their thought and health into consideration before you bathe in your colognes, perfumes and aftershaves.

 

Many others suffer this same allergy scents and it can be life threatening to them as well thru. My hopes are that you and others will remember the others with the same conditions and that you will be more considerate of them I realize this is unlikely but I can try to continue to educate thode that do not understand just how this can be to them also> I do not care about mysdelf, buto ithers with their lives in danger with many more years to live should not have to suffer from either of us stinking up and screwing up their health!

 

Forgive my typos, but meds have kicked in and typing is difficult tonight:(

 

Joanie

[m steve]

since many people are allergic to them and even the smell can trigger a reaction. Joanie, being reasonable on a smoking thread is not acceptable to the smoke vigilantes.

[peaches from georgia]

A step in the right direction. I too believe it is only a matter of time before cigarette smoking is banned on balconies......

Maybe, but I wouldn't count on it. Though HAL operates as a separate entity it is part of Carnival Corp and the overall corporate plan may be to try to appeal to both smokers and non-smokers by taking the 2 most comparable Carnival Corp cruiselines and making one totally non-smoking in the stateroom areas (Princess) and a little more liberal policy on Holland. By allowing verandah smoking on Holland the plan may be to hopefully capture more of the smoking pax group, especially those that will leave Princess.

[Charles4515]

Maybe, but I wouldn't count on it. Though HAL operates as a separate entity it is part of Carnival Corp and the overall corporate plan may be to try to appeal to both smokers and non-smokers by taking the 2 most comparable Carnival Corp cruiselines and making one totally non-smoking in the stateroom areas (Princess) and a little more liberal policy on Holland. By allowing verandah smoking on Holland the plan may be to hopefully capture more of the smoking pax group, especially those that will leave Princess.

 

I highly doubt they consider it an advantage to capture more smoking passengers. And if they wanted to do that they would not have change their policy.

[Toad]

I highly doubt they consider it an advantage to capture more smoking passengers. And if they wanted to do that they would not have change their policy.

 

Unlike most people on this thread, I do not believe HAL sees any difference between, "smoking" pax and "nonsmoking pax"; all they see is the bottom line and how they can get the most passengers. HAL appears to be not making judgements on people but filling the ship.

[ironin]

since many people are allergic to them and even the smell can trigger a reaction. Joanie, being reasonable on a smoking thread is not acceptable to the smoke vigilantes.

 

FWIW, haven't seen a single peanut in a bar on our last three cruises. The gawdawful goldfish, yes. Peanuts, no. ;) Think cost, not potential allergic reaction is the reason for that. BWDIK?

 

P.S. I imagine that what Toad says just above this post is true.

[GPoll189]

There is so much debate going on about smoking and no smoking all around the country that it is hard to keep track of. It isn't just on HAL but in the city and towns we live in.

 

In New York just like I read about in these post about Florida the Mayor is trying to make public areas smoke free. These would include major parks like Central Park and also beaches. During this on going debate there have been protest where smokers came out in force to show their support for their freedom of space, but on the other side of the coin we know that smoking is bad.

 

To set the record straight I am not a smoker but I come from a family of smokers. My father would smoke a cigar or pipe from time to time either on a nice summers day or on vacation. He gave up smoking, when he questioned himself why was he hurting himself. My mom had been a smoker for many more years. She states that she started as a teenager. Luckily about 12 years ago she finally gave up the cigarettes. It took her many tries and many years to finally put them down. Then last summer she was diagnosed with Lung Cancer, luckily they caught it early, it was an accidental finding for a surgical work up for a total knee replacement. She had a lobectomy and now is cancer free. "Knock on wood."

 

Should smokers have a place to smoke? They know the risk out there. It is on every pack and carton they buy. I think the quick answer to that question is yes!. However, do I have to be in the same place the smoke? The answer to that is no! Having certain place where these people can go lets them get their fix and in return the keep the other people healthy. But these places are becoming more restrictive and I am extremely happy about that. But smokers have rights. It is part of the bill of rights. Give them something that they can enjoy, but keep the rest of the public healthy and safe.

[HeatherInFlorida]

The point I highlighted above is not just for me for the many others that can suffer severe life threatening allergies perfumes and other scents that those who use scented items are endangering the life of, I post these comments regarding scents in the hopes that some of you will take their thought and health into consideration before you bathe in your colognes, perfumes and aftershaves.

 

Many others suffer this same allergy scents and it can be life threatening to them as well thru. My hopes are that you and others will remember the others with the same conditions and that you will be more considerate of them I realize this is unlikely but I can try to continue to educate thode that do not understand just how this can be to them also> I do not care about mysdelf, buto ithers with their lives in danger with many more years to live should not have to suffer from either of us stinking up and screwing up their health!

 

Forgive my typos, but meds have kicked in and typing is difficult tonight:(

 

Joanie

 

Joanie, I'm sorry about your problem and anyone else who has an allergy to scents. But you cannot expect that everyone in the world is going to stop wearing perfume because of it. Perfumed objects are everywhere you go in the form of air fresheners, candles, Febreze, deoderants ... the list is endless. I don't know the numbers of people affected by this problem, but I do suspect it is low.

 

My point is you have a problem with your lungs so I would think that smoking is not the best thing for you. I can understand my opinion annoys you, but it doesn't make that opinion any less valid.

 

You've posted about your health issues, your meds, your inhaler, all of this, yet you continue to inhale smoke into your lungs. I confess I don't understand that.

 

I have no problem with people who smoke. I honestly understand how difficult it is to stop no matter how much you may want to. I live with a man who would love to bury his pipe forever, but he is so addicted that he can't.

 

FWIW, haven't seen a single peanut in a bar on our last three cruises. The gawdawful goldfish, yes. Peanuts, no. ;) Think cost, not potential allergic reaction is the reason for that. BWDIK?

 

P.S. I imagine that what Toad says just above this post is true.

 

It's so strange I've never been offered Goldfish (which I really do love). We were on the Westerdam in March 2010 and they had peanuts in the tiny decanters in all the bars.

 

I honestly don't know how people with peanut allergies handle that. I do know I've been on Southwest flights when they have announced there would be no peanuts because someone on the flight has a peanut allergy. I thought that quite accommodating of them

[Gunther1]

ok...I'll bite :).

[kazu]

I posted the exact same on the other smoking thread (how many do we need:eek:)

 

It's just a thought, but it's mine, and just my opinion

 

Here's a thought - let's just let this thread drop.

 

No one will ever be completely happy. but this board is all about helping each other, not debating about smoking.

 

There was a suggestion that all the smoking threads be wrapped up into one (like the anytime dining thread). I think that is a great idea.

 

If this is not in the front and forefront those that want to address can but it won't be such a flame on the board.

 

I just think this is getting too contentious and people can get too hurt or upset. If everyone didn't post it would be gone in no time.

 

Just a thought and just my opinion.;) You can flame me, but only on the balcony though:p

__________________

[ironin]

It's so strange I've never been offered Goldfish (which I really do love). We were on the Westerdam in March 2010 and they had peanuts in the tiny decanters in all the bars.

 

LOL! We're not hanging out in the places - or ships! :D Truth be known, goldfish remind me of some very unpleasant snacks we were served at a nursery school I went to the summer I was 4. (It must have been 20 years before I tried tomato juice again.)

 

I honestly don't know how people with peanut allergies handle that. I do know I've been on Southwest flights when they have announced there would be no peanuts because someone on the flight has a peanut allergy. I thought that quite accommodating of them

From what I've witnessed, it can be tough. Mentioned elsewhere having a friend who had a particularly severe version of the peanut allergy from early childhood until she recently passed away in her mid-60's . As it was little understood until the last decade, she handled it by not traveling in any public conveyance, and letting those who needed to know (such as someone inviting them to dinner) know at the appropriate time.

 

BTW, Heather, not that my opinion matters in this instance (or any, for that matter ;)), but I do want to compliment you on the well-written and compassionate part of your post I didn't quote above.

[GPoll189]

ok...I'll bite :).

 

Direct from the Declaration of Independence:

 

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

 

For smokers their pursuit of Happiness is the ability to light up where they can.

[Gunther1]

To those with more legal knowledge on constitutional law than me on this one..........

[Gunther1]

The Declaration of Independence is apart from the Bill of Rights, but you probably knew that.

[erewhon]

As an on-again-off-again smoker, I follow these threads with interest - though I rarely comment. I've quit dozens of times, and am finally starting to win the battle with the help of an electronic cigarette. I can't call myself a non-smoker because I know one good whiff of the real thing will send me right back ... and the other thing that sends me right back is getting on a ship. I can be smoke-free for months at home, but want to light up as soon as I leave town. No matter how I try to avoid it, I go into every cruise with a "to heck with the struggle, this is vacation" frame of mind - and the nicotine cravings take over.

 

I've learned to manage in a smoke-free hotel by stepping outside when I'm overwhelmed. I manage on ships by using the Verandah (yes, I'm one of "those"), but on my last two cruises I actually put notes in the mail for my 2 neighbors. I stated that I'm an occasional smoker but do not wish to spoil their use of their own verandah. I told them that if I hear them ourdoors, I will put my cigarette out. I also told them my name and asked them to knock on the divider and say hello to let me know if they're out there and I'm not aware of it. It worked out great, and I only received one "knock" on each of those two cruises. Friendly knocks at that.

 

So, it IS possible for smokers and non-smokers to live in harmony. It just takes a little honest effort. And until I finally lick this habit for good, I applaud HAL for moving in the right direction. If I couldn't smoke on my verandah, I would smoke less ... simply because it's so much trouble to get myself to a smoking area. It works in hotels.

 

Thank you for your consideration to non-smokers.

[NMLady]

Just got this from a friend of mine that works for HAL:

 

This just in:

 

In keeping with the majority of guest preferences today, Holland America Line has announced a change to the shipboard smoking policy on its fleet of 15 ships. In addition to those public areas of the ships that are already non-smoking, all stateroom interiors will now also be non-smoking. This change is effective for sailings departing on or after January 15, 2012.

 

For those guests who wish to smoke, there will continue to be designated areas available for this both inside and on outside decks. In addition, smoking is permitted on stateroom verandahs. As is already the case, cigar and pipe smoking is not allowed inside.

 

The new policy is being communicated to travel sellers as well as guests booked on sailings departing January 15, 2012 or later and will be posted on www.hollandamerica.com. Updated smoking policies also are being announced concurrently by Carnival Cruise Lines and Princess Cruises, though policy changes differ by cruise line.

 

I'd rather have the smoking be done inside the cabins and not on the balcony. The smoke from the balcony carries to nearby balconies and often carries to above balconies as well whereas the smoke inside the cabins isn't as intrusive to others during the cruise. And afterwards the cabin can be deep cleaned for the next passengers.

[innlady1]

Not for me, it isn't.

 

Princess gave HAL the chance to 'step up to the plate' but they passed. HAL will have more smokers than ever and they will be in the veranda cabins.

 

 

I agree, Judy. We've always had veranda staterooms/suites. However, on the Maasdam last winter, when we were in a Verandah Suite, the smoke from above at the Sea View pool and from the verandah forward of our stateroom, was obnoxious. So much so that we hardly used the verandah.

So on our next two cruises, I've booked an outside on the Lower Promenade. I can't justify paying more money for a verandah stateroom when we can't enjoy it.