Smoking Policy (More...)

[Talisker92]

I normally stay away from this topic, but sprinkles got to me. On a recent cruise we were in the terminal waiting to board the ship and the woman in front of me started griping about the smoking on the ship! She was not EVEN on the ship yet!

[Hlitner]

I normally stay away from this topic, but sprinkles got to me. On a recent cruise we were in the terminal waiting to board the ship and the woman in front of me started griping about the smoking on the ship! She was not EVEN on the ship yet!

 

Perhaps she could already smell smoke drifting from the ship balconies into the terminal building :D

 

Hank

[zone8grandma]

Sprinkles---Very well said and very true. We've been Princess cruisers for years and have over 30 cruises with them. We are trying HAL (cruised them a couple of times before) and if we like it, we'll be switching because we can smoke on the balconies with HAL.

 

We have encountered similar rude non-smokers and hope we do not encounter them on HAL. We generally ignore them, but the "in your face" stuff deserves sarcastic comments in return.

 

We just want to be able to smoke on our balcony, enjoy a coffee or other drink in peace and we hope that we can find that with HAL.

 

I do hope that HAL executives are reading this - and realizing that they are headed towards becomeingt he cruise of choice of smokers. And thus alienating the 75% of whom are non smokers.

 

As for me, I want to be able to have my coffee or drink of choice on a balcony enjoying the fresh air.

[Gerko]

I, like many of you, are so weary of the smoking posts and debate! It really comes down to this in my mind.....go elsewhere if you do not like the smoking policy of HAL. Which, by the way, I find very reasonable and rational. Go to the many, many other cruise lines which have far more prohibitive smoking policies. Enjoy your smoke free balcony and never have to obsess about whether or not your vacation will be ruined by a smoker in the next cabin, the next deck, the deck two floors up, the aft balcony, the lido deck, the dock, the private island 200 miles away........

 

Why do I care about this? Because I am a very considerate smoker who books only Neptune or Pinnacle suites on HAL. I truly appreciate their reasonable policies. I am soon to be four star mariner and had 3 future cruises booked in either Neptune or Pinnacle Suites. I have never sailed in anything less on HAL and have never paid for or had a complimentary upgrade.

 

I just booked the Pinnacle suite for a 12 day Australia/New Zealand cruise. Not a small price. I was so angry about the change in wine policy for those of us who love to bring our own wines onboard. While it is still a huge disappointment to me, and I cancelled a HAL cruise to sail the NCL Breakaway in October, I will sail my 2 booked cruises and enjoy a HAL cruise in the Pinnacle Suite. HOWEVER, if the smoking on verandah policy changes then I will take my significant cruise dollars over to NCL exclusively.

 

I hope that HAL monitors these boards. I do know that NCL does so. Hopefully this thread can be closed, but I had to weigh in as I am so tired of this debate!

 

Go flhawkeye!

Not everyone disagrees with you. My wife and I book on HAL because it has a more lenient smoking policy and we know many others that do the same and who. like us, would move to another line if things changed. They haven't changed their policy. Only many members of society have and they are entitled to do so but just don't expect everyone to change just because you want them to. I do wonder though, and have expressed this to HAL, why they don't make the aft verandah cabins smoking so the smoke would blow away from the forward cabins that could be snokefree. It seems so simple. Oddly, despite this post, I do not smoke on my balcony. I prefer to go up to the Seaview Bar where the inconsiderate smokers (and nonsmokers) allow their kids to run wild despite it being an adult-only area.

[SeaDate]

OK - Now I'm jumping in. Although, I think I'll stay away from the comment that "most smokers seem to be broke" - THAT'S JUST TOO HYSTERICAL FOR WORDS.

 

I'm only jumping in because I do believe that the cruise lines read these boards and I get tired of mostly the non or anti-smokers speaking their peace.

 

I LOVE cruising - period! My cruise experience has changed drastically because of these smoking issues, but I am trying to deal with the changes. I love Hal and Princess, although up until these smoking changes, I loved Princess more (Elite). I still cruise both lines. HAL - a balcony only and yes, find that I spend much more time in my cabin on HAL. Princess, I choose my inside cabin somewhere close to a smoking area.

 

My biggest irritation with this thread is the whole argument of all smokers being inconsiderate and the idea that no one ever complains of inconsiderate non-smokers. Well, OK let me voice my complaints on the inconsiderate non-smokers that I have encountered.

 

I have seen it go from the simple coughing and waving thing that has gone on for years. To the women who proudly wrote on this board - how she would "hold her breath and run through the casino to get to the showroom". Until one evening when it was too crowded and she was running out of breath - so she started running faster and "knocked a women over sending the lady's drink into the air and the women to the floor". She claimed she kept running and never looked back. To me that is beyond rude and in "my world" I consider that assault. When all the women simply had to do, was go up one flight of stairs or use the elevator to go to the showroom without going through the casino.

 

Rude non-smoker? Last year I was gambling in the casino (and yes smoking) when a hysterical women came up to me screaming hysterically and pointing (inches from my face) at me saying "you are a horrible person and should be ashamed of yourself" over and over again. She was banned from the casino for the rest of the cruise (a 28 day one to be exact).

 

I have story after story that I "could" tell about rude and inconsiderate non-smokers. That same 28 day cruise on a large ship, I watched day after day, non-smokers filling the smoking side of the aft pool tables, when the non-smoking side was completely empty.

 

To me it has always simply been an issue of politeness and common sense. I have seen time and time again, non-smokers walk by a smoking area and loudly make rude and obnoxious statements to those of us in the area. That's not inconsiderate? I would never consider walking through the gym making comments about "addicted gym people". Or make rude comments to an overweight person because I see them eating an ice cream.

 

OK, getting off my soap box now, I have too go through my couch looking for coins to buy my next pack of cigarettes. WOW, it's going to take a lot of panhandling to pay for that 15 night cruise next month since "us smokers are all broke".

 

Amen! Will these boards never cease ref smoking. HA allows smoking on the balconies and other limited areas - end of discussion, so deal with it. if they change their policy, the smokers will have to deal with it - and I doubt you will read the constant b....... from the smokers.

[cruz chic]

Amen! Will these boards never cease ref smoking. HA allows smoking on the balconies and other limited areas - end of discussion, so deal with it. if they change their policy, the smokers will have to deal with it - and I doubt you will read the constant b....... from the smokers.

 

Right. We shall see when that day comes. Have you read the million threads about the wine policy change? I'm sure the smoking policy change will be worse.

[zone8grandma]

Not everyone disagrees with you. My wife and I book on HAL because it has a more lenient smoking policy and we know many others that do the same and who. like us, would move to another line if things changed.

 

Since HAL has the most lenient smoking policy, I am curious as to where you would go if/when they change their policy?

[Mimosa09]

Not everyone disagrees with you. My wife and I book on HAL because it has a more lenient smoking policy and we know many others that do the same and who. like us, would move to another line if things changed.

 

Since HAL has the most lenient smoking policy, I am curious as to where you would go if/when they change their policy?

 

Cunard?

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[zone8grandma]

Cunard does not permit smoking on balconies. It does allow smoking in cabins.

[Richie2pies]

Not everyone disagrees with you. My wife and I book on HAL because it has a more lenient smoking policy and we know many others that do the same and who. like us, would move to another line if things changed.

 

Since HAL has the most lenient smoking policy, I am curious as to where you would go if/when they change their policy?

 

EASY! I no longer cruise. Fortunately, there are plenty of hotels which still allow smoking.

[Cashew14]

On our next cruise I will include on the feedback form that one of the reasons we sail with HAL is the lenient smoking policy.

 

Never bothered before but now I will as they need to know. :cool:

[trixiee]

EASY! I no longer cruise. Fortunately, there are plenty of hotels which still allow smoking.

 

:eek:Really? Haven't seen one of those in a very long time! At least not in Canada!

[cdnsteelman]

SNIP...Smoking is fast becoming an anti-social behaviour... :)

 

This is a very geographically specific comment. Smoking may be becoming anti-social behaviour in some countries (i.e. the US and Canada) but I can tell you from personal experience that this is NOT a global reality. For example, I live in Istanbul - almost everybody smokes almost anywhere essentially all the time ESPECIALLY in social situations. It's not at all uncommon to be eating at a table with my wife and two young children with cigarettes and cigars alight at every proximate table.

 

We have traveled extensively and find most European, Central American and South American countries to be the same.

 

I do not smoke cigarettes but I do and will continue to smoke cigars on my verandah so long as it is allowed by the cruise line. Although those of you who will find this abhorrent behaviour can take solace in the fact that I won't cruise HAL again after their new wine policy takes effect.

 

Happy cruising all

csm

[chrispb]

Not everyone disagrees with you. My wife and I book on HAL because it has a more lenient smoking policy and we know many others that do the same and who. like us, would move to another line if things changed.

 

Since HAL has the most lenient smoking policy, I am curious as to where you would go if/when they change their policy?

 

They don't actually have the most lenient smoking policy. There is another line .....:cool:

 

If they also change their policy then, as Richie2pies says there are lots of alternatives.:D

[GeriatricNurse]

EASY! I no longer cruise. Fortunately, there are plenty of hotels which still allow smoking.

 

Richie, please provide me, (a non-smoker), an accurate, complete & up-to-date list of all the hotels & hotel chains in North America which still allow smoking, (so that I will be able to avoid not booking any accommodation with them)! ;)

[Cashew14]

Richie, please provide me, (a non-smoker), an accurate, complete & up-to-date list of all the hotels & hotel chains in North America which still allow smoking, (so that I will be able to avoid not booking any accommodation with them)! ;)

 

There you go

 

http://www.smokers-united.com/

[frankc98376]

Last we checked Marriott does not allow smoking in the US. I believe that is it for major hotel chains that are smoke free in the US. Some cities forbid any smoking in hotels, but couldn't tell you which ones

Edited November 25, 2013 by frankc98376

[Hlitner]

Regarding smoke-free hotels we can provide some info. Common hotel brands that have gone smoke free include:

Marriott, J.W. Marriott, Renaissance Hotel, Ritz-Carlton, Fairfield Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, Residence Inn, and Spring Hill Suites, Comfort Inns, and Cambria Suites.

 

Since the list in increasing all the time there are probably more. In addition, local laws in many parts of the US sometimes force all hotels in some areas to be smoke-free.

 

Hank

P.S. Just the facts....M'aam

Edited November 25, 2013 by Hlitner

[sail7seas]

Some U.S. states and some cities ban hotel room smoking no matter the chain's national or international policy.

 

[Fouremco]

Richie, please provide me, (a non-smoker), an accurate, complete & up-to-date list of all the hotels & hotel chains in North America which still allow smoking, (so that I will be able to avoid not booking any accommodation with them)! ;)

I don't think you'll like the answer to your post, GeriatricNurse. Take a look at this website: http://www.smokers-united.com/

 

Unfortunately, many of the hotel chains continue to offer a mix of smoking and non-smoking rooms. In Ottawa, for example, the Chateau Laurier (Fairmont) has smoking rooms. I just telephoned them to verify. Toronto has over 20 hotels listed, many of them belonging to well-known chains.

 

That being said, the days of every single room reeking of cigarette smoke are well behind us, and it's possible to get non-smoking rooms and floors in growing numbers.

 

Although designed as a tool for smokers, smokers-united.com works equally well for non-smokers to determine which hotels to avoid.

 

EDIT: I see you beat me to it Cruisebabe11.

Edited November 25, 2013 by Fouremco

[zone8grandma]

There you go

 

http://www.smokers-united.com/

 

Useful link for smokers and non-smokers alike. To try it out, I put in Seattle, WA. Result was 6 hotels with smoking rooms and 101 that were 100% non smoking.... :p

[GeriatricNurse]

Regarding smoke-free hotels we can provide some info. Common hotel brands that have gone smoke free include:

Marriott, J.W. Marriott, Renaissance Hotel, Ritz-Carlton, Fairfield Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, Residence Inn, and Spring Hill Suites, Comfort Inns, and Cambria Suites.

 

Since the list in increasing all the time there are probably more. In addition, local laws in many parts of the US sometimes force all hotels in some areas to be smoke-free.

 

Hank

P.S. Just the facts....M'aam

 

The Starwood chain is also smoke-free! :)

[kjw869]

Regarding smoke-free hotels we can provide some info. Common hotel brands that have gone smoke free include:

Marriott, J.W. Marriott, Renaissance Hotel, Ritz-Carlton, Fairfield Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, Residence Inn, and Spring Hill Suites, Comfort Inns, and Cambria Suites.

 

Since the list in increasing all the time there are probably more. In addition, local laws in many parts of the US sometimes force all hotels in some areas to be smoke-free.

 

Hank

P.S. Just the facts....M'aam

 

The Comfort Inn Ft. Lauderdale Airport/Cruise Port South only had smoking rooms left for the days we wanted to book.

Edited November 25, 2013 by kjw869

[cruisin'girl]

Richie, please provide me, (a non-smoker), an accurate, complete & up-to-date list of all the hotels & hotel chains in North America which still allow smoking, (so that I will be able to avoid not booking any accommodation with them)! ;)

Would you refuse to book with a hotel that had both smoking and non-smoking rooms? Why, especially if the smoking rooms were on a separate floor from the non-smoking rooms which is the way I've always seen it done?

[Hlitner]

The Comfort Inn Ft. Lauderdale Airport/Cruise Port South only have smoking rooms left for the days we want to book.

 

Yep. Apparently this chaine has a policy that allows grandfathering of older properties that have smoking rooms. And, trust me, that the particular Comfort Inn of which you speak is pretty darn old :). We have stayed there a few times and its convenient for pre cruise. But, not a place we recommend for anyone a little fussy about accommodations. We used to be able to get some terrific rates at this hotel and thought at $69 a night it was OK. But the last few times we looked, their rates had really increased and the place is just not worth $100+. Personally, we prefer the hotels in the 17th St area....

 

Hank

Edited November 25, 2013 by Hlitner