A ? for HAL non-smokers

[RuthC]

I...our trip was totally RUINED by these obnoxious neighbors.

What did they do that was "obnoxious"?

[kjw869]

I have resisted replying as I don't treasure the snipers shooting me in the back BUT we recently returned from a partial transit on the Zuiderdam. We have rarely encountered smoking issues on many previous cruises however, this time it was different. We chartered the Pinnacle Suite and quickly found out that use of the balcony was not to be. The inhabitants on the aft cabin smoked cigars and cigarettes frequently to the point that we could smell their fumes in our cabin.

 

What? Do you mean the cabin next to you towards the aft? We were also in the Pinnacle Suite on the Zuiderdam in May, and the closest "aft" cabin is 40 cabins away! There is no way that we would be able to tell where the smoke would be coming from at that distance. We'll be in the same cabin in 48 days, and I'm curious if I could see that far back with binoculars. :-)

Edited March 24, 2014 by kjw869

[Yodalicious]

As ex smokers, more than 20 years, smoke outside has never bothered us. Now those that bathe in perfume..... Can be annoying. But believe it or not, we will get over it:)

[goleta]

I left HAL many years ago due to smoking issues. Returning this summer for another try since they have some special areas for smokers. I will avoid those areas. I would be very upset if I paid for and could not use my balcony due to smoker's smoke. Yes, smokers have a right to smoke and I have a right to not have to smell it, and to enjoy what I paid for. What happens is the smokers win when it comes to balcony smoking. I have a large window cabin so I should be happy.

I do feel bad for smokers who would like to quit. I know it is very hard to do.

[kazu]

Well, I guess I will chime in.... get the popcorn out.

 

First of all, we really have not had an issue with smoke on the balconies BUT we have to remember that about 20 percent or less smoke - so there is a risk.

 

Now for what little it is worth I would far rather have a smoker next to me than the loud, obnoxious people next door that had obviously over indulged every night.

 

Now, every knows I like my wine - and yes I fought for the new wine policy but trust me when I say, I would have far preferred a smoker than that experience any day of the week.

 

Moral of the story - any balcony can be ruined if you want it to be. I did not let them ruin mine but that was just my choice:D

[doublebzz]

They spent most of their cruise lounging on their balcony in the nude,

 

.

 

Maybe the airlines lost their luggage?

[Hlitner]

We are non-smokers and I am very "smoke adverse" because I simply cannot stand the smell of cigarette smoke (cigars and pipes actually bother me a lot less). We often avoid booking balconies on HAL cruises because we just prefer not to take the chance that we will be oft bothered by smoke (which can come from quite a distance depending on the winds). But sometimes, we decide to take the chance and it has honestly been hit and miss. On a 35 day Westerdam cruise last spring we were never bothered by any smoke. But on some other HAL cruises we would often not use our balcony because we found cigarette smoke annoying. It is really a matter of some luck as to whether there are smokers nearby and if they happen to be puffing away when you want to use your balcony.

 

On HAL ships we avoid the Casino like the plague..and on some ships will walk out of our way to avoid the place. Although I enjoy gambling, I have taken a personal vow to never spend a single penny in any HAL casino until they totally ban smoking.

 

DW and I are sun worshippers and spend a lot of time on deck when the weather is good. We generally can find places to sit where smoke is not an issue. Since we cruise on many different lines (14 to date) the smoking issue does sometimes cause us to book cruise lines other then HAL. In fact, we have 3 long cruises booked this year and only 1 in on HAL. If not for the smoking issue we would have booked at least another 30 HAL days this year. It is just one factor in our decision-making but we tend to book other lines unless HAL has an itinerary we just cannot ignore.

 

Hank

Edited March 24, 2014 by Hlitner

[legalslave]

I have resisted replying as I don't treasure the snipers shooting me in the back BUT we recently returned from a partial transit on the Zuiderdam. We have rarely encountered smoking issues on many previous cruises however, this time it was different. We chartered the Pinnacle Suite and quickly found out that use of the balcony was not to be. The inhabitants on the aft cabin smoked cigars and cigarettes frequently to the point that we could smell their fumes in our cabin. I did not get a survey request from HAL but our family has decided that we will not seek our fourth star on Mariner's Program despite only needing 6 days since our trip was totally RUINED by these obnoxious neighbors. We could not use our balcony on most days except the days that they did tours. We are currently looking at Celebrity for our next cruise. Yes, sniper, you have the right to smoke on your balcony and I have the right to vote with my wallet...

 

I am very confused on this. We were in an aft wrap suite on the Zuiderdam. Our friends were in the Pinnacle Suite. It took us a long time to walk to the Neptune and a little longer to walk to their suite. Was the ship traveling in reverse since the smoke from an aft cabin bothered you in the Pinnacle Suite which is a long ways from the aft? The only time I have been on a ship when it sailed in reverse is when departing a port. That only lasted a few minutes. I would have definitly complained directly to the Captain for allowing the ship to sail in reverse for an entire cruise. That would ruin my cruise also, especially when in an aft wrap suite! The wind would make being on the verandah unbearable.

 

 

Diane

[Salacia]

Of course you can enjoy the ship as a non-smoker. Just do what you most likely do already - avoid the areas where there are smokers.

 

If you find the mere smell of smoking offensive, you need to accept that a passenger next to you may be smoking on the balcony. On the plus side, a signature suite has a larger balcony so it won't be as noticeable. When we were on the Eurodam we were in a Neptune Suite and the couple next door smoked constantly. They spent most of their cruise lounging on their balcony in the nude, listening to music, ordering room service and smoking. I didn't let it bother us at all. Ya never know who will be cruising next to you, it's all part of the experience.

 

As for the Neptune Suite, no you will not have access to it, and as others have stated, it is far over rated. For us, it was the most un-enjoyable place on the ship.

 

 

How did you know the passengers in the adjoining balcony spent most of their cruise lounging on their balcony in the nude? I don't doubt that you could hear the music, and smell cigarette smoke - but you must have gone the extra mile to see their state of undress? Or even to know how they spent "most of their cruise", unless you were observing them for most of your cruise.:confused:

 

But as you wrote "Ya never know who will be cruising next to you", so perhaps it is in the best interest of all passengers to be mindful/respectful of their neighbors.

Edited March 24, 2014 by Salacia

[Cashew14]

maybe the airlines lost their luggage?

 

omg toooooo funny :d

[Aussiepair]

My wife and I spent four weeks on the Nieuw Amsterdam in a balcony cabin. The first two weeks were great but for the second two weeks we were unable to use the balcony due to a cigar chain smoker in the next cabin.

 

I don't expect to cruise again with HAL until they change their smoking policy but if I did there is no way I would book a balcony.

[SeaWatch12]

Original poster here-

Thanks again to everyone for their input.

I have decided not to run the risk of not being able to use the balcony due to a smoker next door. Would hate to book and pay for a signature suite and not enjoy the spacious balcony.

So, I sent an e-mail to my travel agent about this last night and will follow up today. Will probably book the Celebrity Reflection for the same week.

I really wanted to try this ship to continue a family tradition of sorts. I recently found a wonderful photo from about 1969/1970 of my aunt boarding the Nieuw Amsterdam of it's day. She looked so happy in the photo and I wanted to take this voyage in her honor. Hopefully HAL will revise their policy of smoking on the balcony in the future.

Happy Sailing everyone!

Mark

[Salacia]

Seriously? That someone would smoke on the balcony next to yours is enough to make you decide not to book with a cruise line?

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/cruise-ship-worker-left-passenger-painted-blood-attack-article-1.1703179

[65 Gator]

What? Do you mean the cabin next to you towards the aft? We were also in the Pinnacle Suite on the Zuiderdam in May, and the closest "aft" cabin is 40 cabins away! There is no way that we would be able to tell where the smoke would be coming from at that distance. We'll be in the same cabin in 48 days, and I'm curious if I could see that far back with binoculars. :-)

 

Aft, as I used it, simply means "toward the stern" which, as you guessed, is a proper nautical term... Not "at the stern" which is also a proper nautical term. Perhaps I should have said that we were in 7045 and the smokers were in 7047.

[GlennG]

My wife and I recently cruised on the Maasdam. We spent additional money to book a verandah stateroom. In didn't take us long to notice that our neighbour was a smoker as he used the verandah for smoking cigarettes and cigars. Smoke bothers me, so I informed my neighbour of my problem. We came to a workable compromise. He would not smoke while the ship was docked, but did smoke while the ship was at sea. The wind blew the smoke away, and we were not bothered by it. In reflecting back on this issue, our compromise was a "win-win" for the both us.

[Minoushka]

I am a non smoker hating smoke . With my luck on Noordam twice i was next to a cigar smoker who smoke day in and night out

What a stench ....could not get purser to do anything because they are allowed to smoke

My cabin reeked and my enjoyment was definitely limited ...I love balconies

I spend hours on them watching the sea,stars etc ...not on this one

Good luck ..I hope you do not get a cigar smoker ...they can really ruin it fir you

[Lizzie68]

Original poster here-

Thanks again to everyone for their input.

I have decided not to run the risk of not being able to use the balcony due to a smoker next door. Would hate to book and pay for a signature suite and not enjoy the spacious balcony.

So, I sent an e-mail to my travel agent about this last night and will follow up today. Will probably book the Celebrity Reflection for the same week.

I really wanted to try this ship to continue a family tradition of sorts. I recently found a wonderful photo from about 1969/1970 of my aunt boarding the Nieuw Amsterdam of it's day. She looked so happy in the photo and I wanted to take this voyage in her honor. Hopefully HAL will revise their policy of smoking on the balcony in the future.

Happy Sailing everyone!

Mark

 

What a shame! I've reads of posts about the smoking policy, and here is proof positive of Holland America's policy turning customers away. It's not just this booking, but the possible new business coming out of this persons and accompanying friends/family, and so on and so on..... It sounds like Holland needs to get in line with the other cruise ship companies with the smoking policy. On my cruise I never had any issues at all with smoking, that was on RCL.

[legalslave]

Aft, as I used it, simply means "toward the stern" which, as you guessed, is a proper nautical term... Not "at the stern" which is also a proper nautical term. Perhaps I should have said that we were in 7045 and the smokers were in 7047.

 

Thanks for clarifying. You are for sure correct that 7047 would be aft of yours. When most people say aft, I think of the back of the ship.

 

Diane

[legalslave]

Maybe HAL Could have one side of the ship allow smoking on the balconies and the other side of the ship non smoking? I realize this would still not make everyone happy as some people book a cabin because it's their favorite or they want to see the views on a particular side of the ship. It is however, a way to keep everyone happy who does not want cigar/cigarette smoke coming on to their balcony from the cabin next to them, below them, above them or anywhere near them!

 

Diane

[peaches from georgia]

What a shame! I've reads of posts about the smoking policy' date=' and here is proof positive of Holland America's policy turning customers away. It's not just this booking, but the possible new business coming out of this persons and accompanying friends/family, and so on and so on..... It sounds like Holland needs to get in line with the other cruise ship companies with the smoking policy. On my cruise I never had any issues at all with smoking, that was on RCL.[/quote']

HAL is in business for only one reason- to make a profit. If their 'smoking allowed on verandahs' was hurting the bottom line they would change it. No matter how many customers say they will no longer sail on HAL ships there must be more who will continue to find HAL their cruiseline of choice plus new customers who either don't care about the smoking or are smokers themselves. HAL's not stupid; if profit was being hurt they would change the policy.

[bevfd]

I had an Ocean View booked and have just been upgraded to a Signature Suite. As a former smoker I have no issue with people using their Verandah to smoke and it is consistent with HAL's policy which is fine.

 

I would hope though, that whatever the behaviour (music, late night chatting, smoking etc.) that people would behave with consideration towards fellow passengers. I like the idea that smokers would consult with their neighbours and come to an amicable arrangement. Very civilised, although clearly this depends on compromise all round.

 

If I find that the smoking policy bothers me to the extent that it impacts my enjoyment of my room then I will take my custom elsewhere in future. Simple.

[cruisemom42]

I've never smoked but my parents smoked for most of my life.

 

Smoke has never bothered me as much as it seems to bother many. Physically I have no reaction to it except perhaps if someone was smoking at my table while I was trying to eat a meal. Otherwise, it's not a problem. Mentally -- well, I work in the medical field and firmly believe the very slight risks associated with the sort of minimal exposure to smoke that one gets on a cruise ship are easily overwhelmed by the many other exposures that are much worse (but don't have the public exposure of smoking).

 

I generally don't book a balcony category cabin when sailing alone, but I do when sailing with someone else. Interestingly, over the Christmas holiday I booked a balcony cabin for my son and I on a Celebrity cruise. On one of the few times I was sitting on the balcony, I could smell cigarette smoke. I'm not sure if other lines are as consistently "smoke free" as some might like to think....

[taxmantoo]

Maybe HAL Could have one side of the ship allow smoking on the balconies and the other side of the ship non smoking? I realize this would still not make everyone happy as some people book a cabin because it's their favorite or they want to see the views on a particular side of the ship. It is however, a way to keep everyone happy who does not want cigar/cigarette smoke coming on to their balcony from the cabin next to them, below them, above them or anywhere near them!

 

Diane

 

I don't think so :rolleyes: Why would HAL assign 50% of its ship to smoking cabins when only 20% of the population are smokers :confused:

[kjw869]

Aft, as I used it, simply means "toward the stern" which, as you guessed, is a proper nautical term... Not "at the stern" which is also a proper nautical term. Perhaps I should have said that we were in 7045 and the smokers were in 7047.

 

We also were in 7045 and there was a cigarette smoker in 7047. I saw her a couple of times by the rail. We never smelled any odor because we were moving forward most of the time that we were on the deck. Plus, because our deck was so long, we were quite a distance from their cabin. We might have detected it if we were in port or backing up.

 

We'll be in the same cabin again in May and if there are smokers on each side of it, so be it, it's their right. I certainly respect others who will not sail HAL because of their policy, but it sure wouldn't stop us from sailing on HAL. Every HAL cruise we've been on recently has been sold out.

 

I'm familiar with many nautical terms, but I agree, it would have been less confusing if you stated it was the cabin next to you!

Edited March 24, 2014 by kjw869

[kjw869]

I don't think so :rolleyes: Why would HAL assign 50% of its ship to smoking cabins when only 20% of the population are smokers :confused:

 

Possibly because HAL allows smoking on their balconies where many other lines do not, smokers will switch to HAL because of this policy. Then, the 20% figure would certainly increase.