A ? for HAL non-smokers

[kjw869]

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

 

True, especially when they refer to aft cabins.

[mamaofami]

I've never had an issue with smokers in a veranda next to me, but would be very very unhappy if that were to happen and I couldn't sit outside and enjoy the ocean going by. It happened to my daughter this winter on NCL and she was very unhappy.

[CRUZBUDS]

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

 

of course it is, and I don't think it's a small number :)

[Minoushka]

Many smokers are going with HALBecause most other lines no longer allow smoking .so chances are you will find more smokers on Hal ships

I have decided not to use them again because of smoking cigars on balconies is allowed

Im sure eventually no smoking will be allowed anywhere .....sign of the times

[LMaxwell]

I love how anyone that says that they could not enjoy their balcony because of a smoker gets the third degree interrogation. It is totally unwarranted and people are simply stating their personal experiences. We do not need, and they should not have to provide, time, date, ship direction, prevailing wind speed, temperature, barometric pressure, ship's captain, that nights menu, etc.

 

Simply put; smoking is allowed on balconies on HAL. If you feel that smelling smoke, to whatever degree you personally find offensive, will cause you to have lower than expected enjoyment / usage of your balcony, even going so far as to the point of being unusable and / or ruining your vacation experience the answer is quite clear: If you choose to sail on HAL do not book a balcony cabin for a risk exists. If you choose to book a balcony cabin, choose a cruise line which specifically prohibits this activity so as to lessen or eliminate the risk of being bothered by smoke (Disney, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Princess, etc.) and thus ensuring a pleasurable use of the balcony for which you have paid added expense.

[iancal]

It is not a big issue for me. But DW is pushing back big time on HAL lately

when a HAL ship is on our short list.

 

So while I am not particularly bothered by it, I can see how others like DW who are bothered by smoke make similar decisions. Cannot say if more smokers are not attracted to HAL or not. DW simply wants to enjoy the veranda-while in port and while cruising.

[Hlitner]

Perhaps HAL should be more upfront with this issue and have a warning on their web site (and other TA web sites) that flashes whenever anyone tried to book an HAL cabin with a balcony. The warning should say, "Caution, booking a balcony may subject you to Cigarette, Cigar and Pipe smoke and might be injurious to your health!" Then any non-smoker who still books a balcony should not have any complaints about smoke.

 

Hank

[rgtkkb]

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.

 

I agree that HAL will be getting a greater percentage of smokers. That was certainly the case on my cruise a few weeks age. The smoke didn't bother us too much, but waking up to find 17 cigarette butts on our veranda where we were planning to have our room service breakfast was disgusting. (Although I admit that they were quick in sending someone to clean it up.)

[scm1848]

I am a smoker, and would not sail if I couldn't smoke on my balcony. That being said, I can't imagine finding cigarette butts on my balcony or causing mine to blow on my neighbor's. Beside the wonderful "spinning" ashtrays that our room steward always provides, I don't even trust them in the slightest breeze. I always use a cup or glass with water in it, so EVERY ash is immediately doused. Then I put the butt in the ashtray. If all smokers would do this, it would reduce fire risk and blowing ashes and butts to all around one's balcony. PLEASE be courteous, smokers!!!!!

[CruiseWhere]

Perhaps HAL should be more upfront with this issue and have a warning on their web site (and other TA web sites) that flashes whenever anyone tried to book an HAL cabin with a balcony. The warning should say, "Caution, booking a balcony may subject you to Cigarette, Cigar and Pipe smoke and might be injurious to your health!" Then any non-smoker who still books a balcony should not have any complaints about smoke.

 

Hank

 

Add marijuana onto that list as well:mad:

[Hlitner]

Add marijuana onto that list as well:mad:

 

Oh no! Now that would be going to far :D

Edited March 24, 2014 by Hlitner

[CruiseWhere]

We had the displeasure from our neighbour:mad:

 

BTW loved all your advice on PVR. I ended up printing it out to take with us on our upcoming cruise so that we can just "wander"

[nschamp]

I am a smoker, and would not sail if I couldn't smoke on my balcony. That being said, I can't imagine finding cigarette butts on my balcony or causing mine to blow on my neighbor's. Beside the wonderful "spinning" ashtrays that our room steward always provides, I don't even trust them in the slightest breeze. I always use a cup or glass with water in it, so EVERY ash is immediately doused. Then I put the butt in the ashtray. If all smokers would do this, it would reduce fire risk and blowing ashes and butts to all around one's balcony. PLEASE be courteous, smokers!!!!!

 

Half full of water Coke can makes better ashtray :)

[cruisemenowcruisemelater]

I am a smoker, and would not sail if I couldn't smoke on my balcony. That being said, I can't imagine finding cigarette butts on my balcony or causing mine to blow on my neighbor's. Beside the wonderful "spinning" ashtrays that our room steward always provides, I don't even trust them in the slightest breeze. I always use a cup or glass with water in it, so EVERY ash is immediately doused. Then I put the butt in the ashtray. If all smokers would do this, it would reduce fire risk and blowing ashes and butts to all around one's balcony. PLEASE be courteous, smokers!!!!!

 

Agreed, smokers need to be courteous. There are few things I enjoy more than smoking a cigar with my morning coffee on the stateroom balcony. But if my neighbor is outside enjoying their room service breakfast, I either wait until they are off the balcony or go up to the 'public' smoking area to have my coffee & smoke. Just because we are smokers doesn't mean we have to be rude.

[Clarabella_Baby]

I agree that HAL will be getting a greater percentage of smokers.

 

 

Yes I would imagine that as smokers realize that HAL is one of the only lines left to allow smoking, for every one of us who won't return because of smoking....probably a dozen will come because of the smoking.

 

I cruised in a Verandah last fall with a chain smoker next door and it also ruined my enjoyment of my balcony. I spend oodles of time on my balcony. This spring I'm cruising in a Signature suite so a bigger space so hopefully less noticable if we are next to a smoker.

 

But for my next cruise I'm probably going to book Crystal for their 'no smoking on verandah' policy

[St. Louis Sal]

I'm a non-smoker who has absolutely no problem with smoke on HAL ships.

I do not book balconies, and don't gamble, so those smoking areas don't have an impact on me (I can pass by the Casino, or go around another way.)

The outdoor pool smoking area is a fairly small spot, which I can easily avoid by going to the other side. I do love to sit out on the promenade, and that is not a smoking area, as per the HAL smoking policy. The Observation Deck is, and I just stay away from it.

 

I believe that smokers have a right to smoke, and therefore a right to designated smoking areas. I have a right to know where those areas are, and a responsibility to stay away from them. Since balconies don't come into the picture for me, then I'm not bothered.

 

I agree with you that smokers have a right to smoke and for the most part I just avoid those areas like the casino (most of the time) or the back pool deck. But the balcony smoking is a whole different issue. We always book balconies because that is what my husband enjoys. It seems to be the luck of the draw when it comes to whether you have smokers around you. Most of the time we have been lucky, a few times not and once it was really a major annoyance. I wish HAL would eliminate the balcony smoking because avoiding my own balcony is not acceptable.

 

Once while cruising on Celebrity (which does not allow smoking on balconies) we smelled a faint whiff in our hallway one day. We didn't report it but someone must have because later that day a crew member knocked on our cabin door with a reminder of the no smoking policy. We weren't the culprits but we appreciated the warning.

 

St. Louis Sal

[kjw869]

Once while cruising on Celebrity (which does not allow smoking on balconies) we smelled a faint whiff in our hallway one day. We didn't report it but someone must have because later that day a crew member knocked on our cabin door with a reminder of the no smoking policy. We weren't the culprits but we appreciated the warning.

 

St. Louis Sal

 

A friend of mine and his wife took their first cruise on the Celebrity Solstice a few years ago, and smelled cigarette smoke nearly every night on their balcony. They are however, night owls, and spent time on their deck when most people were sleeping. The only time they smelled the smoke during the day was when they were in port in San Juan, PR.

 

They didn't complain nor did any staff member knock at their door.

[nedward]

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

 

Yes. That is why DW and our cruise buddies cxl'd our HAL cruise.

[NC&KY]

We cruise based primarily on itinerary, although we have more recently favored small or mid-size ships. Another couple and we want to go around the tip of South America, and HAL has a very attractive itinerary at a very good price. Hence I was tasked with finding out more about the cruise. This thread has been enough to make our decision clear. While I can't say I'm allergic to smoke, I will get an intense headache if exposed to it for any significant length of time. The stories here make clear this is not the cruise line for us. :( While I don't care for the big ship anymore, it looks like we'll look at Celebrity instead. I'd rather put up with the crowds than face two weeks of headaches.

 

I do agree with earlier posters who say HAL has run the numbers and decided its current policy makes sense. I guess it's good that smokers have a cruise line they can count on, and HAL has to hope the number of people who reject them because of the policy does not outweigh the appeal they have to smokers.

[doublebzz]

Yes. That is why DW and our cruise buddies cxl'd our HAL cruise.

 

We cruise based primarily on itinerary, although we have more recently favored small or mid-size ships. Another couple and we want to go around the tip of South America, and HAL has a very attractive itinerary at a very good price. Hence I was tasked with finding out more about the cruise. This thread has been enough to make our decision clear. While I can't say I'm allergic to smoke, I will get an intense headache if exposed to it for any significant length of time. The stories here make clear this is not the cruise line for us. :( While I don't care for the big ship anymore, it looks like we'll look at Celebrity instead. I'd rather put up with the crowds than face two weeks of headaches.

 

I do agree with earlier posters who say HAL has run the numbers and decided its current policy makes sense. I guess it's good that smokers have a cruise line they can count on, and HAL has to hope the number of people who reject them because of the policy does not outweigh the appeal they have to smokers.

 

I certainly appreciate these folks' aversion to smoke and understand their desire to cruise with a different cruise line. During my last cruise, a women next to me in the theater was using a very potent perfume. The next day my sinuses were inflamed and I was uncomfortable the whole next day. I've firmly made up my mind not to cruise HAL again until they adopt a policy prohibiting the use of perfumes in any of the inside public rooms.

[taxmantoo]

I certainly appreciate these folks' aversion to smoke and understand their desire to cruise with a different cruise line. During my last cruise, a women next to me in the theater was using a very potent perfume. The next day my sinuses were inflamed and I was uncomfortable the whole next day. I've firmly made up my mind not to cruise HAL again until they adopt a policy prohibiting the use of perfumes in any of the inside public rooms.

 

In that case, you may want to consider changing your countdown clock :rolleyes:

[kjw869]

I've firmly made up my mind not to cruise HAL again until they adopt a policy prohibiting the use of perfumes in any of the inside public rooms.

 

Which cruise lines have this policy?

[Hlitner]

I certainly appreciate these folks' aversion to smoke and understand their desire to cruise with a different cruise line. During my last cruise, a women next to me in the theater was using a very potent perfume. The next day my sinuses were inflamed and I was uncomfortable the whole next day. I've firmly made up my mind not to cruise HAL again until they adopt a policy prohibiting the use of perfumes in any of the inside public rooms.

 

We really agree about the issue, although it is a problem on every cruise line! Some women just have no idea how offensive their "fragrances" can be to many folks...not to mention those with allergies. We have been in your situation quite a few times and usually will quickly move to other seats. We have even had the same problem in the MDR on some ships (not just on HAL) and have quickly changed tables. Although this might insult the lady with the perfume, it is the result of her having made a bad choice. And if she is insulted enough to avoid us for the rest of the cruise that is a good thing :)

 

Hank

[doublebzz]

In that case, you may want to consider changing your countdown clock :rolleyes:

 

Unfortunately, too late but I did break out my WW2 gas mask.

[Lizzie68]

I certainly appreciate these folks' aversion to smoke and understand their desire to cruise with a different cruise line. During my last cruise, a women next to me in the theater was using a very potent perfume. The next day my sinuses were inflamed and I was uncomfortable the whole next day. I've firmly made up my mind not to cruise HAL again until they adopt a policy prohibiting the use of perfumes in any of the inside public rooms.

 

The perfume issue is not specific to HAL, surely? You will find that on any ship, I believe.