How's the new HAL non smoking policy working out?

[1 HappyCruiser]

Hmmm another smoking thread... I'm posting because we just returned off the Zuiderdam which presented no issue in terms of cabin smell of any kind (I would definitely know) even though it was before the ban. Ironically we have eliminated Princess now and Celebrity (a while ago) from our considered lines as DH is a smoker. Never ever in the cabin btw :eek: - we purchase balcony rooms and yes he is VERY conscientious about his 'butts' and I certainly have no issue as a non-smoker sitting next to him. The casino bar - ahhhh - not so much fun... but I can say - the casino itself was the least smoky I've ever seen. Smokers hung out at the separated sports bar... not much at all in the casino. I HATE cigarette smoke - so I know... but I also dislike those who have to complain about smoke in an area designated as smoking - if ya don't care for it - MOVE - I do. Personally I'll be glad if/when he quits - but until then - I try to give him as much consideration as he does me which means we will cruise lines that allow for balcony smoking and not lines that don't. :)

 

Not to inflame the subject but you're obviously much more tolerant of the smell since you live with a smoker & aren't as sharply tuned to the smell of tobacco. I'm always amazed by comments by some folks that post "there was no problem" on any ship in question. Even the best ventilated casino on any ship still stinks even on a non smoking night.

[KirkNC]

I will not post on a smoking thread....I will not post on a smoking thread....I will not post on a smoking thread....

[kazu]

I will not post on a smoking thread....I will not post on a smoking thread....I will not post on a smoking thread....

 

:):p:D:):D

[GeriatricNurse]

As a Smoker, I see how smoking on a balcony could be a problem. However, I think one should be able to smoke in their stateroom as these rooms seem to be thoroughly cleaned after each sailing. Cruiseline solutions...no smoking in staterooms or on balcony. Guess the cruiselines don't need our "smoker" dollars.

 

Yeah, guess not! :D The 80% non-smokers, I would imagine, would not be able to make up the dollar difference of the 20% non-smokers! :rolleyes: (Have any of the non-smoking hotels, restaurants, etc. etc., etc. gone out of business that are non-smoking)? :confused::p:D

[kazu]

Yeah, guess not! :D The 80% non-smokers, I would imagine, would not be able to make up the dollar difference of the 20% non-smokers! :rolleyes: (Have any of the non-smoking hotels, restaurants, etc. etc., etc. gone out of business that are non-smoking)? :confused::p:D

 

Actually, GN - they have. When non smoking was brought in a lot of bars and restaurants suffered a severe decline in business. Some did have to close. Every penny counts in business. Seriously.

[GeriatricNurse]

Actually, GN - they have. When non smoking was brought in a lot of bars and restaurants suffered a severe decline in business. Some did have to close. Every penny counts in business. Seriously.

 

 

Seriously, no non-smoking hotels, bars or restaurants have closed where I live just because they have gone non-smoking! ;) (Probably different "down east", eh)? :p Hard to believe that the minority of 20% smokers would cause any hotels, bars & restaurants to close! :rolleyes:

[kazu]

Seriously, no non-smoking hotels, bars or restaurants have closed where I live just because they have gone non-smoking! ;) (Probably different "down east", eh)? :p Hard to believe that the minority of 20% smokers would cause any hotels, bars & restaurants to close! :rolleyes:

 

different down east, Quebec and some areas in Ontario too! I don't know about the rest of the country, but the risk for banks lending to bars and restaurants went sky high:( Many of these businesses require x dollars and x people spending to survive - when they lost a % of it, there was no place to get it from:( It's totally true. I could name at least 6 in the city close by that had to close, 3 in this little suburb. It's a very tricky business to run and they can't afford permanent slumps. a lot of businesses can't, including cruise lines;)

[Mar56]

Also had a huge impact on charitable organizations in our area. We r a bordercity and huge amounts of Americans coming to play bingo. When no smoking law went into effect, bingo halls started closing and the charities suffered due to loss of revenue from the bingos as the americans didnt come any more. One bingo hall left in town and charities scramble to get a couple of games a week for their group.

 

Several local bars closed as well and the city's share of revenue from our local casino also took a serious hit and has not recovered.

 

Mar56

Ontario

[awboater]

In Michigan, a statewide no smoking ban went into effect a couple of years ago. Now there is no smoking in any public building or private building where the public may visit; such as bars, restaurants, and even your workplace. The only places anyone can smoke indoors now are Casinos and your private home.

 

This ban did not affect the economy at all. Of course, I suppose an argument could be made that Michigan's economy is already so bad that we did not notice a difference when this ban took effect, but at least we are no longer in last place...

[Randyk47]

Seriously, no non-smoking hotels, bars or restaurants have closed where I live just because they have gone non-smoking! ;) (Probably different "down east", eh)? :p Hard to believe that the minority of 20% smokers would cause any hotels, bars & restaurants to close! :rolleyes:

 

It's a mixed bag here. I don't know of any hotels who have closed because of going non-smoking. On the restaurant and bar side some have done well or at least okay but some, mostly bars, have gone under. For me personally, as a smoker, I'm not sure I would compare a cruise ship to a restaurant or bar and only marginally to a hotel. I don't stay in a restaurant or bar 24/7 and I haven't spent more than four days in a hotel in years and years. At sea my options are more limited. As those options are reduced then I have to make a choice and that might be not to cruise but so be it.

[m steve]

Celebrity sails with all the cabins filled? I think I have never been on a HAL cruise with empty cabins.

[Boytjie]

Actually, GN - they have. When non smoking was brought in a lot of bars and restaurants suffered a severe decline in business. Some did have to close. Every penny counts in business. Seriously.

 

I don't believe there was a decline in business when New York City instituted its smoking bans, despite what the doomsday sayers were predicting.

[1 HappyCruiser]

When non smoking was brought in a lot of bars and restaurants suffered a severe decline in business. Some did have to close. Every penny counts in business. Seriously.

 

Here in Florida when the smoking in restaurants ended all the restaurants began proving an outdoor patio for their smoking patrons & never lost any business. In the evening during the summer it's enjoyable to sit out there when there are no smokers. I thing it actually helped to increase business.

[bozemanman]

In Montana we have real factual numbers of declines in the bar business since the statewide smoking ban in public places. Two years ago the full ban went into effect, the first year business was off by +40%. The second year it remained off by +26%. We shall see what happens in the 3rd year (just ended) but it is suspected it will remain about 25% off. These revenues have been tracked by state receipts. It has closed many businesses and of course hurts related business. I am a non-smoker and think it was needed to be done but nonetheless has a devastating adjustment period.

[BruceMuzz]

Celebrity sails with all the cabins filled? I think I have never been on a HAL cruise with empty cabins.

 

Celebrity took a huge hit on overall occupancy when they went non-smoking.

At the same time, HAL saw a nice jump in occupancy.

 

There was a lesson to be learned there.

It also explains why the Carnival Brands have been much more cautious when re-designing their smoking policies.

During economic downturns, in a business that hopes to realize a 5% gross profit, it does not always make sense to alienate 20% of your clientele.

[1 HappyCruiser]

In Montana we have real factual numbers of declines in the bar business since the statewide smoking ban in public places. Two years ago the full ban went into effect, the first year business was off by +40%. The second year it remained off by +26%. We shall see what happens in the 3rd year (just ended) but it is suspected it will remain about 25% off. These revenues have been tracked by state receipts. It has closed many businesses and of course hurts related business. I am a non-smoker and think it was needed to be done but nonetheless has a devastating adjustment period.

 

I suspect it's one of the few states where the business actually dropped off. It's unfortunate for the owners. Are they going to allow separate ventilated smoking rooms to be installed, which to me would solve the problem? Only one restaurant where we've lived ever tried that & was successful at the time.

[LindaM]

In Michigan, a statewide no smoking ban went into effect a couple of years ago. Now there is no smoking in any public building or private building where the public may visit; such as bars, restaurants, and even your workplace. The only places anyone can smoke indoors now are Casinos and your private home.

 

This ban did not affect the economy at all. Of course, I suppose an argument could be made that Michigan's economy is already so bad that we did not notice a difference when this ban took effect, but at least we are no longer in last place...

 

As a Michigander, I concurr!! In fact, some of the smaller family restaurants are now busier, because people would avoid them because there was no barrier between the smoking/non smoking sections.

 

Now, the smokers smoke outside the buildings, just like the smokers on HAL smoke on their balconies. It's not as convenient for them, but at least they can still smoke!

[StartrainDD]

Celebrity sails with all the cabins filled? I think I have never been on a HAL cruise with empty cabins.

 

I've been on 4 X cruises in the past two years - all were filled.

[fleckle]

Celebrity sails full because they run last minute close out sales at reduced prices to unload empty cabins.

 

When Celebrity banned smoking on balconies, many Celebrity passengers who are heavy smokers switched over to HAL.

 

Now some Princess passengers are doing the same.

 

With HAL's recent ban on smoking inside the cabin, those who used to smoke in the cabin now go out on the balcony to smoke.

Also, some HAL smokers who previously booked cabins without balconies are now booking balconies for this reason.

 

So considering all these circumstances in combination, it is not surprising to find more smoking on HAL balconies than before.

[CRUZBUDS]

So considering all these circumstances in combination, it is not surprising to find more smoking on HAL balconies than before.

 

That's what we're afraid of on our upcoming Zuiderdam cruise. :(

[aikensbest]

I smoked for 57 years..Now a non smoker for 11 and proud of it. Our city went non smoking and 3 of my 4 bowling partners vowed to quit bowling if they had to go outdoors. Amazing results! All of them still bowl...All of them have quit smoking. I will never tell anyone to quit, but we have not lost any business in this city from non smoking laws.

[startwin]

So considering all these circumstances in combination, it is not surprising to find more smoking on HAL balconies than before.

 

That's what we're afraid of on our upcoming Zuiderdam cruise. :(

 

Well, you know you're OK on one side of you.;)

[1 HappyCruiser]

 

So considering all these circumstances in combination, it is not surprising to find more smoking on HAL balconies than before.

 

I think that it will only hasten the inevitable due to the increased complaints.

[jcrandle]

I am still looking for verifiable statistics on income loss due to smoking bans. If asked, I can produce National Institute of Health information on smoking and second hand smoke. See http://health.nih.gov/topic/Smoking

[Hlitner]

Celebrity took a huge hit on overall occupancy when they went non-smoking.

At the same time, HAL saw a nice jump in occupancy.

 

There was a lesson to be learned there.

It also explains why the Carnival Brands have been much more cautious when re-designing their smoking policies.

During economic downturns, in a business that hopes to realize a 5% gross profit, it does not always make sense to alienate 20% of your clientele.

 

You think? In the past few weeks Celebrity has made their smoking policy even tougher (guess that hit you say they took wasn't so bad after all) by pretty much banning all smoking inside their ships. Princess (a Carnival Brand)also recently made their smoking policy tougher by banning smoking on their verandahs (they had long banned smoking in cabins).

 

Hank

Hank