I will continue to sail on HAL if balcony smoking is permitted.

[kjw869]

I can't believe that I'm posting to a smoking thread!

 

HAL's smoking policy is a deterrent for us to book HAL. We would never book a veranda on HAL with the current policy. We are giving HAL another try this summer despite the smoking policy - in two OVs. I'm hoping that with the changes that limited inside smoking since our last cruise that the clouds of smoke that swore us off HAL the last time are gone. Because we aren't in veranda cabins, I think we will be fine and might book again. I'm concerned long term, however, that as other lines eliminate smoking, HAL will increasingly become the line of the nicotine addicts and oxygen tanks.

 

This thread requesting one-sided responses is meaningless. HAL will keep or change its policy based on end of cruise survey results, insurance issues, and cost of compliance with SOLAS requirements. A one-sided request for comments carries no weight at all.

 

Smoking is personal to me. My mother was addicted. She tried to quit for 30 years and sometimes did so successfully for a few years at a time. In times of stress, however, she would return to the vice. Emphysema took her at 63 - a wonderful woman taken way too soon. Lung cancer took my father in law too. It would crush me if either of my sons started to smoke. ALL OF YOU SHOULD QUIT, but I know that's difficult.

 

And to those who think that smoking is only an issue on cruise critic, IMHO you couldn't be more wrong.

 

I think the OP asked a simple question, she didn't request a sermon on the evils of smoking or HAL's policies. Below is the question the OP asked--quite simple to understand.

 

"Please reply ONLY if you will continue to sail on HAL if smoking is permitted on balconies. No other replies asked. Please respect the statement."

 

So as I can make out, yes, you will continue to sail with HAL with the smoking policy in place. And of course, you had other choices.

 

By the way, I gave up cigarettes over 35 years ago. I however, have no right to tell anyone to quit smoking, that is THEIR decision.

Edited July 26, 2014 by kjw869

[jimmy2x]

So? As long as there is a satisfactory OV available for me I don't care whether the balconies are all full or all empty.

 

I apologize for not making myself clear. What I was trying to say was that a number of posters over the years have said that they would not book a balcony given to current policy. The implication ( at least it seems to me) that this was somehow hurting HAL's bottom line.

[Drico]

We will continue to sail HAL if smoking on balconies is allowed.

[kakalina]

I haven't had a cigarette in 10 months, but DH still smokes tobacco cigarettes and I use the e-cigarette. We love that HAL still allows smoking on balconies and will continue to sail with them.

[chrispb]

To me the purpose of this thread is quite clear and I believe it is accomplishing it very well.

 

The thread is showing clearly that many (if not most) pax are not really bothered by other pax smoking on balconies. Only a very vocal minority of individuals on Cruise Critic are objecting to it and trying to make it seem as if almost all pax are bothered by it.

 

I personally am not bothered by it in the least and it seems as though I am in the majority.

 

Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion but not to force that opinion on anyone else.

 

Scott & Karen

 

Exactly right. There are people responding to this thread who probably scroll past most of the (many) smoking threads. It's amazing to see how many people are truly not bothered by smoke - perhaps they are the hidden majority.

I think this is one of the most pertinent smoking questions that has been asked.

[Fisherwoman]

I can't believe that I'm posting to a smoking thread!

 

HAL's smoking policy is a deterrent for us to book HAL. We would never book a veranda on HAL with the current policy. We are giving HAL another try this summer despite the smoking policy - in two OVs. I'm hoping that with the changes that limited inside smoking since our last cruise that the clouds of smoke that swore us off HAL the last time are gone. Because we aren't in veranda cabins, I think we will be fine and might book again. I'm concerned long term, however, that as other lines eliminate smoking, HAL will increasingly become the line of the nicotine addicts and oxygen tanks.

 

This thread requesting one-sided responses is meaningless. HAL will keep or change its policy based on end of cruise survey results, insurance issues, and cost of compliance with SOLAS requirements. A one-sided request for comments carries no weight at all.

 

Smoking is personal to me. My mother was addicted. She tried to quit for 30 years and sometimes did so successfully for a few years at a time. In times of stress, however, she would return to the vice. Emphysema took her at 63 - a wonderful woman taken way too soon. Lung cancer took my father in law too. It would crush me if either of my sons started to smoke. ALL OF YOU SHOULD QUIT, but I know that's difficult.

 

And to those who think that smoking is only an issue on cruise critic, IMHO you couldn't be more wrong.

 

As of now: 79 posts, 2,449 views. My father, mother and sister all died of smoking related illnesses. I rest my case!

[nutensteve]

We are both non smokers but will continue to sail on HAL regardless of their smoking policy. We have only been on 3 HAL cruises but have never been bothered by smokers. All three were balconies.

[MommaBear55]

I do not book balconies on lines that allow smoking on their balconies. It does not stop me from cruising that line.

[walkinman]

We will be happy to continue to sail on HAC and always book a balcony cabin. I enjoy smoking on the balcony; actually, I spend far more time out on my balcony than anywhere else on the ship.

 

Most days, I am on the balcony from an hour before sunrise 'till the coffee's gone around 1030am. After lunch, most afternoons are spent on the balcony until just after sunset. Take a little time for dinner, maybe a little time in the casino, then back to the balcony for some star gazing before bed. We spend very little time in any of the public areas of the ship. We are on the cruise to enjoy watching the sea, and find the balcony the best place for that. It will make me very unhappy if I cannot smoke out there.

 

Since I spend so much time on the balcony, I have noticed that my neighbors do not get out there nearly as often as I do. I don't think this is because of my smoking, because a lot of the time I am just out there NOT smoking. Usually, my neighbors to either side may spend about 1/2 hour to an hour a day at the most outside. They will come out for 10 minutes or so, then go back in. This was the case last year on our 30 day South Pacific cruise and our 11 day Panama Canal cruise.

 

Personally, if they ban smoking on the balconies, it will detract greatly from my cruise experience.

 

Mrs. Walkinman

[frankc98376]

Bottom line- it is all about dollars. As soon as any line finds that they will increase bottom line things change. If 75% of those that are paying full price for Neptune Suites ask for ash trays for their balcony- there you have it.

 

I'm sure HAL looks at all of the variables including shipboard accounts and casino spending of those that do request an ash tray.

 

I worked in Nevada casinos in the mid to late 80's and saw the studies that were done then. Smokers and non smokers were tracked- smokers spent more on alcohol and gambling than non smokers consistently. The casinos would have loved to stop smoking- would cut their maintenance and insurances costs by millions. Study after study showed that stopping smoking would cost many times more than the savings.

[AlohaPride]

Please reply ONLY if you will continue to sail on HAL if smoking is permitted on balconies. No other replies asked. Please respect the statement.

 

Diane

Balcony smoking doesn't bother me, so it wouldn't be a factor in choosing our next cruise.

[B Russo]

I will continue to cruise with HAL if smoking is allowed on balconies' date=' and ONLY if it is allowed..[/quote']

I agree on this. :) Bill

[kjw869]

It's nice to see that some can answer a simple question. Thanks to the OP who originated this thread!

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-Note 3 using Forums mobile app

[Casey12]

It's nice to see that some can answer a simple question. Thanks to the OP who originated this thread!

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-Note 3 using Forums mobile app

 

Honestly, this is the most odd post I have ever seen. You would think a question would want two sides to get an informative sampling but this is asking only for those who agree with the OP. This is not providing any valuable information to anyone. I am guessing you are friends with the OP by how often you defended the OP on this thread.

[CaribbeanIsland]

I am trying to figure out the purpose of this post. It seems to be from a smoker who want to continue smoking on her balcony and wants support for it. More and more smoking restrictions are going to be implemented in various industries including cruise ships. Enjoy it while you can as the tides are turning.

[kjw869]

Honestly, this is the most odd post I have ever seen. You would think a question would want two sides to get an informative sampling but this is asking only for those who agree with the OP. This is not providing any valuable information to anyone. I am guessing you are friends with the OP by how often you defended the OP on this thread.

 

So, what is your answer to the OPs question? Your post did not offer any "valuble" information on what the OP asked. Just more rhetoric.I think this is an "odd" response on what was asked.

 

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-Note 3 using Forums mobile app

Edited July 26, 2014 by kjw869

[Mrdillion]

Yes, we will continue to sail HAL with current Smoking Policy. Non-smoker who books balconies and have never been bothered by balcony smoking.

[cbr663]

 

You have every right to tell someone to quit smoking - maybe even a responsibility - especially in a gentle way like in this public forum. They have every right to ignore you as most will do. I respect both freedoms.

 

Actually no, you do not have that right. No where is that right written.

[CaribbeanIsland]

Actually no, you do not have that right. No where is that right written.

 

First Amendment rights.

[cbr663]

I am trying to figure out the purpose of this post. It seems to be from a smoker who want to continue smoking on her balcony and wants support for it. More and more smoking restrictions are going to be implemented in various industries including cruise ships. Enjoy it while you can as the tides are turning.

 

If you simply read the responses to the OP, you will see that both smokers and non-smokers, are very happy with HAL's current smoking policy. The general consensus is that the "smoking issue" is a cruise critic forum issue and not an issue for the vast majority that sail on HAL.

[Contessa30]

We certainly will - we always books suites and have had zero issues with smoke on our balcony.

If permitted in the cabin- that would be another story.

[legalslave]

Please reply ONLY if you will continue to sail on HAL if smoking is permitted on balconies. No other replies asked. Please respect the statement.

 

Diane

 

Well hello from the OP. There wasn't a question in my statement. It was a simple statement that I asked all who agreed to reply. Yep, there have been a lot of smoking threads on the HAL boards. However, most are started by someone who is hell bent on getting HAL to change to their way of thinking. Anyone who makes a post on those threads, who isn't against the current smoking policy, is blasted by those who want to control the thread. I only asked that we stay on topic. Obviously, there are the control freaks, who think they own the Cruisecritic boards, who just can't handle the responses on this thread. It is not meant to sway HAL one way or another as the numerous threatening threads have been attempting to do.

 

It is simply meant to let that silent majority ON Cruisecritic post a reply without everyone else on the thread attacking them. The control freaks know who they are.

 

Diane

[lazey1]

I think the OP asked a simple question, she didn't request a sermon on the evils of smoking or HAL's policies. Below is the question the OP asked--quite simple to understand.

 

"Please reply ONLY if you will continue to sail on HAL if smoking is permitted on balconies. No other replies asked. Please respect the statement."

 

So as I can make out, yes, you will continue to sail with HAL with the smoking policy in place. And of course, you had other choices.

 

By the way, I gave up cigarettes over 35 years ago. I however, have no right to tell anyone to quit smoking, that is THEIR decision.

 

BRAVO! It would be nice for everyone to stick to the subject at hand, and not give lectures.:p

[CaribbeanIsland]

If you simply read the responses to the OP, you will see that both smokers and non-smokers, are very happy with HAL's current smoking policy. The general consensus is that the "smoking issue" is a cruise critic forum issue and not an issue for the vast majority that sail on HAL.

 

Do you honestly think that 20 posts on a CC board that isn't even asking for a discussion is really a good indicator of consensus?

[nschamp]

Bingo!!! Many folks on CC think that whatever opinion is published here is the final word in all of cruising. The average size of all the meet n greets I've attended is probably around 40. Some larger and some smaller of course, but considering the passenger capacity on some of those ships, CC represents a small percentage.

To answer the question posed by the OP...yes, we will continue to cruise on HAL if balcony smoking remains.

 

 

Good post. The same people with the same song, over and over again. CC probably doesn't realize how many people have left this forum because of this clique.

 

I will continue on HAL also.