This Thread Is To Be Used For All Discussions About HAL's On Board Smoking Policies

[Fouremco]

Add us to those who are conflicted about booking with Holland America. We have sailed only on the Nieuw Amsterdam and Oosterdam. Enjoyed both but hated the smoke. Thought the staff was wonderful.

 

We love Celebrity for the smoking policy, and the S class ships.

 

We are intrigued by the Koningsdam and the 21 day Iceland/Fiords cruise, BUT...there's that smoking issue...and I think it will keep us away again. We like throwing our money away in a smoke-free environment :rolleyes:; and if we put money into a balcony or suite we want the assurance that it will be smoke free.

 

There is always going to be an issue with this for people...and we all vote with our dollars and how we choose to spend them. It is apparently financially feasible for HA to continue to get enough bookings regardless of the smoking issue....this astonishes me, but there it is! Enough non-smokers are apparently willing to roll the dice on the issue, and those who smoke are on board due to the policy.

 

Seems to me that they could designate sides of the ship as smoking or non and it would resolve the issue. But I've yet to see a way to make a room (casino) that allows smoking to make smoking a non-issue for those of us who hate cigarette smoke. Maybe the Koningsdam will have some space-age ventilation system? I think not...

This "solution" has been talked to death on these boards, with the general consensus that it would never work.

 

We too hate smoke on the balconies, and had switched to Celebrity after our first HAL cruise, 21 smoke-filled days on the Noordam. We couldn't use our balcony for the first half of our B2B because of the smokers around us, but we were able to move to another cabin for the second leg which was marginally better. We vowed not to return to HAL until the policy was changed.

 

We loved Celebrity - and still do - but we found that HAL offers cruises that often are a better fit with our choice of ports and available time. Feeling conflicted, we decided to take another cruise with HAL, but in an aft cabin. Many cruises later, have never been overly bothered by the smoke in an aft cabin, particularly when under way, and book them with Celebrity too now, simply because we enjoy them.

 

Two of our next three cruises are HAL, with a nice two weeks on Celebrity in between, and we are particularly looking forward to enjoying an aft cabin on the Koningsdam for the first time. No space-age ventilation, but I think we'll be fine. :)

[Vineyard View]

Well there are enough options out there now that are just as good or better than HAL where there is no smoking on balconies. We will vote with our dollars.

 

GeorgiaPeach - check out the New Viking Oceans for Icelands/fjords/Baltic. It is an amazing ship, itineraries, crew, food....and there is a section glassed on each end on the top deck with comfy sitting areas for smokers.

 

Will check back in another 6 months to see if HAL has changed their policy. Until then, all the smokers can continue to flock to HAL.

 

Sad.

[SydneyD'Augstralia]

HAL is my last choice cruiseline.

 

But, now that they are the only line that allows balcony smoking, that's where I go. I enjoy having a smoke on my own private balcony, rather than running all over the ship to find a smoking area.

 

Seabourn also allows smoking, but the solo cost is prohibitive. So, HAL it is.

 

I am forced to cruise a line I actively dislike, why is is so hard for you nonsmoking HAL fans to choose from dozens of other lines available to you?

[Fouremco]

HAL is my last choice cruiseline.

 

But' date=' now that they are the only line that allows balcony smoking, that's where I go. I enjoy having a smoke on my own private balcony, rather than running all over the ship to find a smoking area.

 

Seabourn also allows smoking, but the solo cost is prohibitive. So, HAL it is.

 

I am forced to cruise a line I actively dislike,[b'] why is is so hard for you nonsmoking HAL fans to choose from dozens of other lines available to you?[/b]

You've answered your own question: because we're HAL fans.

 

If I was booking cruises on a "last choice cruiseline", I think I'd be re-examining my lifestyle choice.

[HoneyGV]

HAL is my least favorite cruise line. However, they are the only cruise line to still allow smoking on the balconies, which I enjoy immensely. Therefore, I will continue to sail with them, just for that privilege. If they ever institute a smoking ban on balconies, bye bye Hal.

 

I quit smoking a year ago and since then I've taken up vaping. I smoked from age 14 until my 66th birthday.

 

I can and do vape just about ANYWHERE I choose. I get even more enjoyment out of vaping.

I have no problem with the folks who smoke, but on my last HAL cruise, my vaping caught on with a lot of current smokers. I even became the "hit" of the casino!

 

No tar, carbon monoxide or any of the hundreds of other gasses and harmful chemicals did I release in the air. Anyone who claims water vapor in the air bothers them as tobacco smoke does is just "blowing smoke"....IMO.

 

I always check with any establishment to find out their vaping policy. So far, with the exception of the airlines, I've never been told I can't vape. I was even told by a flight attendant that I could vape in the lab and it would be ok. The only reason they have the "no vaping" permitted on the flight is because there would be too many complaints by radical nonsmokers who would have to be educated on the matter and there are some folks who just want to be "pitas" and there's just nothing that can change their little minds.

[HoneyGV]

Add us to those who are conflicted about booking with Holland America. We have sailed only on the Nieuw Amsterdam and Oosterdam. Enjoyed both but hated the smoke. Thought the staff was wonderful.

 

We love Celebrity for the smoking policy, and the S class ships.

 

We are intrigued by the Koningsdam and the 21 day Iceland/Fiords cruise, BUT...there's that smoking issue...and I think it will keep us away again. We like throwing our money away in a smoke-free environment :rolleyes:; and if we put money into a balcony or suite we want the assurance that it will be smoke free.

 

There is always going to be an issue with this for people...and we all vote with our dollars and how we choose to spend them. It is apparently financially feasible for HA to continue to get enough bookings regardless of the smoking issue....this astonishes me, but there it is! Enough non-smokers are apparently willing to roll the dice on the issue, and those who smoke are on board due to the policy.

 

Seems to me that they could designate sides of the ship as smoking or non and it would resolve the issue. But I've yet to see a way to make a room (casino) that allows smoking to make smoking a non-issue for those of us who hate cigarette smoke. Maybe the Koningsdam will have some space-age ventilation system? I think not...

 

Have you ever knocked on your neighbor's door and explained your concerns to them? Sometimes some smokers don't realize their cigar/cigarette smoke is bothersome.

[Lizzie68]

I quit smoking a year ago and since then I've taken up vaping. I smoked from age 14 until my 66th birthday.

 

I can and do vape just about ANYWHERE I choose. I get even more enjoyment out of vaping.

I have no problem with the folks who smoke, but on my last HAL cruise, my vaping caught on with a lot of current smokers. I even became the "hit" of the casino!

 

No tar, carbon monoxide or any of the hundreds of other gasses and harmful chemicals did I release in the air. Anyone who claims water vapor in the air bothers them as tobacco smoke does is just "blowing smoke"....IMO.

 

I always check with any establishment to find out their vaping policy. So far, with the exception of the airlines, I've never been told I can't vape. I was even told by a flight attendant that I could vape in the lab and it would be ok. The only reason they have the "no vaping" permitted on the flight is because there would be too many complaints by radical nonsmokers who would have to be educated on the matter and there are some folks who just want to be "pitas" and there's just nothing that can change their little minds.

 

 

Well done on quitting smoking! I know very well how hard it is. I understand that HAL applies the same rules to electronic cigarettes as to the real thing. Many public places here have begun to do the same.

[Blue Mudshark]

No tar, carbon monoxide or any of the hundreds of other gasses and harmful chemicals did I release in the air. Anyone who claims water vapor in the air bothers them as tobacco smoke does is just "blowing smoke".

 

Anyone who claims that vapers exhale only water vapor is definitely blowing smoke.

 

The only reason they have the "no vaping" permitted on the flight is because there would be too many complaints by radical nonsmokers who would have to be educated on the matter and there are some folks who just want to be "pitas" and there's just nothing that can change their little minds.

 

Nicotine addiction runs deep.

Edited July 6, 2015 by Blue Mudshark

[zerbot]

No tar, carbon monoxide or any of the hundreds of other gasses and harmful chemicals did I release in the air. Anyone who claims water vapor in the air bothers them as tobacco smoke does is just "blowing smoke"....IMO.

 

It can't be just water vapor or you could just stick your head over a pot of boiling water and get the same effect. Smoke is particularly bothersome for my asthma because of the tiny particles of soot, but tobacco smoke is worse than say, wood smoke, which is worse than candle smoke (like when you blow one out). But some things which are entirely vapors, such as some perfumes, noxious chemicals (chlorine in the air like at a swimming pool will do it), or hell, even just very hot (upper 90's+) air will do it with long enough exposure. Water vapor by itself is good, I've stood in a hot shower on a few occasions to breathe in the steam. If the vaping liquid is just purified nicotine in water, it probably wouldn't be a problem, but I wouldn't want to say that definitively until I'd experienced it. Nicotine is a stimulant and some people react to it badly. If it's more than just nicotine, well, all bets are off.

[Aquahound]

Have you ever knocked on your neighbor's door and explained your concerns to them? Sometimes some smokers don't realize their cigar/cigarette smoke is bothersome.

 

Based on your post previous to this one and your attitude toward non smokers in that post, I think you know why knocking on their door is a bad idea.

[Fouremco]

I quit smoking a year ago and since then I've taken up vaping. I smoked from age 14 until my 66th birthday.

 

I can and do vape just about ANYWHERE I choose. I get even more enjoyment out of vaping.

I have no problem with the folks who smoke, but on my last HAL cruise, my vaping caught on with a lot of current smokers. I even became the "hit" of the casino!

 

No tar, carbon monoxide or any of the hundreds of other gasses and harmful chemicals did I release in the air. Anyone who claims water vapor in the air bothers them as tobacco smoke does is just "blowing smoke"....IMO.

 

I always check with any establishment to find out their vaping policy. So far, with the exception of the airlines, I've never been told I can't vape. I was even told by a flight attendant that I could vape in the lab and it would be ok. The only reason they have the "no vaping" permitted on the flight is because there would be too many complaints by radical nonsmokers who would have to be educated on the matter and there are some folks who just want to be "pitas" and there's just nothing that can change their little minds.

Hate to burst your bubble, but you can't just vape anywhere you please on a HAL ship. The current smoking policy from HAL's website, including vaping:

 

For the comfort of all of our guests, all staterooms (cabins), showrooms and most other indoor areas are designated non-smoking. While smoking is not permitted in staterooms, guests are allowed to smoke on stateroom verandahs. Smoking is also permitted on certain other designated, outside decks. The designated smoking areas for all ships are as follows unless otherwise noted.

Stateroom verandahs

Casino (Active players only)

Seaview Bar

Outside Decks

Sports Deck

Observation Deck (ms Prinsendam, ms Eurodam, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Noordam, ms Oosterdam, ms Westerdam, and ms Zuiderdam only)

Cigar and pipe smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the ship; it is only permitted on the outside decks where smoking is otherwise allowed and on stateroom verandahs. Electronic cigarettes are permitted in staterooms but not in other public areas of the ship other than on outside decks designated as smoking areas.

Any guest who smokes inside staterooms in violation of our policy will be charged a US$250 cleaning fee per day of violation.

[HoneyGV]

Well done on quitting smoking! I know very well how hard it is. I understand that HAL applies the same rules to electronic cigarettes as to the real thing. Many public places here have begun to do the same.

 

HAL allows E-cigarettes in staterooms and where tobacco is permitted.

[HoneyGV]

Anyone who claims that vapers exhale only water vapor is definitely blowing smoke.

 

 

 

Nicotine addiction runs deep.

>>>

 

It is water vapor and dissipates quickly. Nothing in it that causes anyone else to have health problems from my vapes.

 

I don't use nicotine in my vapes and even if I did...it has no effect on non-smokers. It only affects me. Nice try though.;)

[HoneyGV]

It can't be just water vapor or you could just stick your head over a pot of boiling water and get the same effect. Smoke is particularly bothersome for my asthma because of the tiny particles of soot, but tobacco smoke is worse than say, wood smoke, which is worse than candle smoke (like when you blow one out). But some things which are entirely vapors, such as some perfumes, noxious chemicals (chlorine in the air like at a swimming pool will do it), or hell, even just very hot (upper 90's+) air will do it with long enough exposure. Water vapor by itself is good, I've stood in a hot shower on a few occasions to breathe in the steam. If the vaping liquid is just purified nicotine in water, it probably wouldn't be a problem, but I wouldn't want to say that definitively until I'd experienced it. Nicotine is a stimulant and some people react to it badly. If it's more than just nicotine, well, all bets are off.

 

*******************

 

The ONLY thing that gets expelled from an E-cig is water vapor. The E-liquid I use is vegetable based...100%. The vapor that leaves my mouth ONLY stays IN MY DIRECT AREA dissipates within 3 seconds and causes no harm to anyone. It's no more harmful and is based on the same principle as most "fog" machines in theaters or concerts.

 

I make my own E-liquid and 99% of it is water.

I'm sure nicotine is addictive...to the person vaping. Nicotine has about as much effect on a vaping person as caffeine has on a person who swills coffee all day long. :)

[HoneyGV]

Based on your post previous to this one and your attitude toward non smokers in that post, I think you know why knocking on their door is a bad idea.

 

I have no derogatory attitude toward MOST nonsmokers...it's the radicals that offend me with their waving of their hands and fake coughing, but CHOOSE to hang around in smoking areas.

 

I DO introduce myself to my cabin neighbors and the Neptune Lounge is a very good place to do so...I've been meeting my neighbors for years.

 

People tend to be very nice when we meet in person and are conscientious to one another.

 

BUT...since I've been vaping for a few years now and have totally given up tobacco....smoke on the ship isn't an issue. ;)

[HoneyGV]

Hate to burst your bubble, but you can't just vape anywhere you please on a HAL ship. The current smoking policy from HAL's website, including vaping.

 

Yes...I can vape ANYWHERE I please...including my suite. As a matter of fact...it's permitted in even more areas than I even go into.

[Fouremco]

I quit smoking a year ago and since then I've taken up vaping.

 

BUT...since I've been vaping for a few years now and have totally given up tobacco....smoke on the ship isn't an issue. ;)

Is memory loss a a side effect of too much vaping? :D

[zerbot]

The ONLY thing that gets expelled from an E-cig is water vapor.

 

Again, that's not possible unless the vaping liquid is 100% water.

 

The E-liquid I use is vegetable based...100%. The vapor that leaves my mouth ONLY stays IN MY DIRECT AREA dissipates within 3 seconds and causes no harm to anyone. It's no more harmful and is based on the same principle as most "fog" machines in theaters or concerts.

 

Vegetable just means "plant" as opposed to "animal" or "mineral". Doesn't say anything about whether it's harmful or not. Since you make it, you could just say what goes into it.

 

Dissipation doesn't mean it goes away, it simply means the condensate evaporates into the air. When I use my inhaler, I exhale into a cloth, or in a pinch into my sleeve because most of the medication settles in my lungs, but not all of it. This in spite of the fact that looking at me you couldn't see anything I was exhaling. It's still there and I have no intent to medicate anybody else. Again, if it is just water and nicotine, it's probably not a problem for me, but it could still be a problem for someone who is nicotine sensitive.

[Lizzie68]

HAL allows E-cigarettes in staterooms and where tobacco is permitted.

 

So just the stateroom in addition to the other allowed areas. I'm glad to hear that, as that vapour is really annoying. Last but one cruise, a couple decided to stroll through the shops area on the ship puffing away on electronic cigarettes. At the time I thought the staff did nothing about it, but (it was a longish cruise) I never saw them do it again.:D

[sail7seas]

I was sure I had read e-cigarettes emit formaldehyde and sure enough the following link confirms that. To say those of us standing on our verandah next to some using their e-cigarette is perfectly safe doesn't seem to be verified by all. I don't think HAL should permit them in any public space where cigarette smoking is not permitted. We can avoid indoor spaces with people using them if we know where that is.

 

http://ecigarette-research.com/web/index.php/2013-04-07-09-50-07/2014/162-nyt-formald

 

[HoneyGV]

Is memory loss a a side effect of too much vaping? :D

 

No, a few years ago, I bought the E-cigs, but kept on smoking. Then last year I quit tobacco totally and now totally vape.;)

[HoneyGV]

Again, that's not possible unless the vaping liquid is 100% water.

 

 

 

Vegetable just means "plant" as opposed to "animal" or "mineral". Doesn't say anything about whether it's harmful or not. Since you make it, you could just say what goes into it.

 

Dissipation doesn't mean it goes away, it simply means the condensate evaporates into the air. When I use my inhaler, I exhale into a cloth, or in a pinch into my sleeve because most of the medication settles in my lungs, but not all of it. This in spite of the fact that looking at me you couldn't see anything I was exhaling. It's still there and I have no intent to medicate anybody else. Again, if it is just water and nicotine, it's probably not a problem for me, but it could still be a problem for someone who is nicotine sensitive.

 

I've already said I don't use nicotine. Besides nicotine isn't what nonsmokers inhale from second hand smoke. The nicotine is ingested by the user.

 

The only way another person could be "nicotine" sensitive is if they ingest nicotine into their bloodstream.

 

Caffeine is more addictive to more people than nicotine...according to research.

 

If you are exhaling your meds after you've inhaled them, then perhaps you're inhaling more than you need to and your lungs are either not absorbing your meds or you're wasting them by inhaling too much?

[HoneyGV]

So just the stateroom in addition to the other allowed areas. I'm glad to hear that, as that vapour is really annoying. Last but one cruise, a couple decided to stroll through the shops area on the ship puffing away on electronic cigarettes. At the time I thought the staff did nothing about it, but (it was a longish cruise) I never saw them do it again.:D

 

Water vapor is annoying to you?? How so?

[HoneyGV]

I was sure I had read e-cigarettes emit formaldehyde and sure enough the following link confirms that. To say those of us standing on our verandah next to some using their e-cigarette is perfectly safe doesn't seem to be verified by all. I don't think HAL should permit them in any public space where cigarette smoking is not permitted. We can avoid indoor spaces with people using them if we know where that is.

 

http://ecigarette-research.com/web/index.php/2013-04-07-09-50-07/2014/162-nyt-formald

 

 

I know that article and there are TWO types of E-liquids...ONE of them (PG) is the one the article tries desperately to show as harmful. The other one..which I use is vegetable based (VG).

 

The article starts out saying how harmful it is, but then goes on to backtrack their claim.

 

I, myself, only use VG liquid that I make, and the liquid goes nowhere NEAR the levels it takes to equal levels akin to tobacco. It's in your link.

 

From what I've read...in Colorado they now have a liquid form of pot (THC) that can be vaped as well, but not in Florida yet.

 

People always have something to complain about...don't they? :confused:

[POA1]

If you are exhaling your meds after you've inhaled them, then perhaps you're inhaling more than you need to and your lungs are either not absorbing your meds or you're wasting them by inhaling too much?

 

You do know that exhalation happens regardless of whether or not there is medication in the inhalent stream, right?

 

In related news, pooping is not a sign of over-eating.