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

[DeeniEncinitas]

My fingers are turning BLUE from having them crossed for soooooo long!

I sure hope HAL changes their policy by the time we are on the Eurodam for our European cruise in Oct 2016!!!!!!

I can only hope! But will not hold my breath!

I can always wear a gas mask on our verandah 😷

I wrote so long ago on this thread and really thought HAL would change by now!

We became 4 STAR on our last cruise in April!

When we did our 24 day Med cruise in 2013, we were blessed with no suite mates on either side with smoking!

Maybe we will get lucky again!

Denise:)

[SydneyD'Augstralia]

Wow, you guys are a judgey piece of work.

 

I am very intelligent and I really enjoy smoking. The two are not mutually exclusive. I am aware of the health risks, but am not bothered enough to quit right now as I REALLY ENJOY IT.

 

I also love cruising and smoking at the same time, so HAL it is. I prefer cruising to land vacations. so I will continue smoking, a legal activity, on the line that allows it.

 

Would you rather I sneak smoke where it is not allowed?

 

 

 

.

[sail7seas]

What seems to be missed here is most of us who don't want you having the verandah near us is that we REALLY don't care if you smoke. Smoke as much as you like and really enjoy it if you wish. What we REALLY mind is when we have to smell your second hand smoke. We don't want to be chased off our verandahs that we really enjoy and also paid really good money for because your second hand smoke is really unpleasant for us.

 

[cruiseing marly]

What seems to be missed here is most of us who don't want you having the verandah near us is that we REALLY don't care if you smoke. Smoke as much as you like and really enjoy it if you wish. What we REALLY mind is when we have to smell your second hand smoke. We don't want to be chased off our verandahs that we really enjoy and also paid really good money for because your second hand smoke is really unpleasant for us.

 

 

 

 

 

Not sure how in today's day 2015 that business can be keeping there heads in the sand and not realizing by allowing smoking within 9 meters of a private door is infringement on that persons rights .

[sail7seas]

Not sure how in today's day 2015 that business can be keeping there heads in the sand and not realizing by allowing smoking within 9 meters of a private door is infringement on that persons rights .

 

HAL ships are flagged in the Netherlands, sail internationally and don't have to abide by the 9 meters rules which may apply in some countries. Their team of lawyers most assuredly have been consulted. :)

 

[Host Walt]

Please read, again, the initial post of this thread.

 

We have established this thread to be the "go to" thread for all discussions pertaining to Holland America's on board smoking policies. This thread is intended to make it easier for all Cruise Critic members to discuss these policies and any future changes thereto.

 

Here's a link to HAL's policy summary Shipboard Life: Is smoking allowed on board? - Click on "Shipboard Life" and a drop down menu will appear. Click on "On Board Policies" in that menu and you'll see the last question is "Is smoking allowed on board?"

 

Here's the currently posted policy (as of August 9, 2014):

 

-----

Is Smoking Allowed On Board?

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.

 

----

 

Reminders.

 

1. Our community guidelines continue to apply to this thread.

 

2. This is a forum for discussions of cruising and associated topics. It is not a forum for discussing the health, economics and public policy aspects of smoking, whether associated with cigarettes, pipes, cigars or controlled substances (marijuana).

 

3. Discussions of this approach to smoking posts and other board policies are off topic and will be removed. Please post discussions of this approach for smoking posts to this thread: Single Smoking Thread on the HAL Board - a Sticky

 

Thanks for your understanding and continued participation on the Cruise Critic forums.

 

Thanks,

[DeeniEncinitas]

What seems to be missed here is most of us who don't want you having the verandah near us is that we REALLY don't care if you smoke. Smoke as much as you like and really enjoy it if you wish. What we REALLY mind is when we have to smell your second hand smoke. We don't want to be chased off our verandahs that we really enjoy and also paid really good money for because your second hand smoke is really unpleasant for us.

 

 

Sail7seas,

Well said! Thank you!

Denise:)

[Fouremco]

What seems to be missed here is most of us who don't want you having the verandah near us is that we REALLY don't care if you smoke. Smoke as much as you like and really enjoy it if you wish. What we REALLY mind is when we have to smell your second hand smoke. We don't want to be chased off our verandahs that we really enjoy and also paid really good money for because your second hand smoke is really unpleasant for us.

 

A very well articulated summary of the perspective of the majority of people hoping that HAL will revise its policy.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

So, HAL still allows smoking on their balconies?

 

The last time I sailed HAL, they allowed smoking (cigarettes, pipes, cigars) in the dining room. Granted, that was 1966. ;)

 

We're booked on the Koningsdam for next year and have a very large balcony - one which I'd assume we'd be able to fully enjoy every day. That was until I started doing a bit more research. Heck, even Carnival has pulled the plug on cabin and balcony smoking. Granted, what's "allowed" and what people do in reality can differ!

 

My current favorite (mainstream) line policy is that of Celebrity - where one can actually breath smoke-free air even in the casino !

 

What's up with HAL ?

 

I have not bothered to read this entire thread (I don't have quite that much free time!) so can anyone tell me if they are open to input from guests - and if so, what might be the best way to pass along my opinion to them?

 

Hopefully, this will all be moot by November '16 !

 

Tom

[Fouremco]

So, HAL still allows smoking on their balconies?

 

The last time I sailed HAL, they allowed smoking (cigarettes, pipes, cigars) in the dining room. Granted, that was 1966. ;)

 

We're booked on the Koningsdam for next year and have a very large balcony - one which I'd assume we'd be able to fully enjoy every day. That was until I started doing a bit more research. Heck, even Carnival has pulled the plug on cabin and balcony smoking. Granted, what's "allowed" and what people do in reality can differ!

 

My current favorite (mainstream) line policy is that of Celebrity - where one can actually breath smoke-free air even in the casino !

 

What's up with HAL ?

 

I have not bothered to read this entire thread (I don't have quite that much free time!) so can anyone tell me if they are open to input from guests - and if so, what might be the best way to pass along my opinion to them?

 

Hopefully, this will all be moot by November '16 !

 

Tom

Open to input? Maybe, but if so, only to the pro smoking contingent if the failure to ban smoking from balconies is any indication.

[sail7seas]

So, HAL still allows smoking on their balconies?

 

The last time I sailed HAL, they allowed smoking (cigarettes, pipes, cigars) in the dining room. Granted, that was 1966. ;)

 

We're booked on the Koningsdam for next year and have a very large balcony - one which I'd assume we'd be able to fully enjoy every day. That was until I started doing a bit more research. Heck, even Carnival has pulled the plug on cabin and balcony smoking. Granted, what's "allowed" and what people do in reality can differ!

 

My current favorite (mainstream) line policy is that of Celebrity - where one can actually breath smoke-free air even in the casino !

 

What's up with HAL ?

 

I have not bothered to read this entire thread (I don't have quite that much free time!) so can anyone tell me if they are open to input from guests - and if so, what might be the best way to pass along my opinion to them?

 

Hopefully, this will all be moot by November '16 !

 

Tom

 

With all respect, if you have not sailed HAL since 1966 they haven't made a whole lot of money from your lack of bookings in all these years. :) :D

 

[mrscopper]

I read somewhere that HAL was changing it's policy 01/16 to no smoking on balconies. Don't know if this is true. I was hoping for casino also, since we enjoy a bit of evening fun. Has anyone else read this?

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Open to input? Maybe, but if so, only to the pro smoking contingent if the failure to ban smoking from balconies is any indication.

 

Well, if nothing else, that contingent is getting smaller and smaller as fewer young people are taking up smoking.

 

Tom

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

With all respect, if you have not sailed HAL since 1966 they haven't made a whole lot of money from your lack of bookings in all these years. :) :D

 

 

Touché!!

 

:D

 

Tom

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Not to mention that the poster would be fairly elderly.

 

Not quite yet.

 

I'm the little blonde one here:

 

 

 

HAL was SUPER easy to work with. Submitting the above image and some other background info earned me 7 days of cruise credit!

 

Tom

Edited July 18, 2015 by Tom-n-Cheryl

[freestyling]

Not to mention that the poster would be fairly elderly.

 

My first Cruise was in 1967 at the age of 8 and I don't consider myself elderly :)

[Danni3ll3]

For those who reassured me that HAL is not the "Ashtray of the Seas", I want to thank you! Your prediction of not being bothered by smokers was absolutely true. We had no issues at all on our balcony, nor was walking through the casino a problem. I was very pleasantly surprised as I did expect a large number of smokers especially since we were cruising in Europe. This thread certainly gives one a very skewed view of the reality out there.

[sammiedawg]

There was speculation a policy change would be announced second quarter, 2015. That timeframe has come and gone. Buyer beware, smoking is a problem especially if you book a balcony. We've been "smoked off" our balcony. We don't spend any time in casinos but we've been "smoked out" of adjacent areas to the casino.

[POA1]

Not quite yet.

 

I'm the little blonde one here:

 

 

 

HAL was SUPER easy to work with. Submitting the above image and some other background info earned me 7 days of cruise credit!

 

Tom

 

My first Cruise was in 1967 at the age of 8 and I don't consider myself elderly :)

 

Sorry to be insensitive. I'm not young by any stretch of the imagination. (I'm not just older than dirt. I knew dirt when it was a rock.) :)

[regnig]

Sorry to be insensitive. I'm not young by any stretch of the imagination. (I'm not just older than dirt. I knew dirt when it was a rock.) :)

 

:D LOL :D

 

or as my neighbor says ..... "Moby Dick was a minnow" ;)

[regnig]

There was speculation a policy change would be announced second quarter, 2015. That timeframe has come and gone. Buyer beware, smoking is a problem especially if you book a balcony. We've been "smoked off" our balcony. We don't spend any time in casinos but we've been "smoked out" of adjacent areas to the casino.

 

sammiedawg I'm sorry you encountered such problems but as you can read that is not always the situation.

 

For those who reassured me that HAL is not the "Ashtray of the Seas", I want to thank you! Your prediction of not being bothered by smokers was absolutely true. We had no issues at all on our balcony, nor was walking through the casino a problem. I was very pleasantly surprised as I did expect a large number of smokers especially since we were cruising in Europe. This thread certainly gives one a very skewed view of the reality out there.

 

Danni3ll3 I'm personally of the opinion (I know folks, you don't need to remind me) that the "skewed view" is due to the fact that those who don't smoke and have been bothered by it (or think they might be) are the most vocal on this thread while those who like you were not bothered or are themselves smokers remain quite.

[cruz chic]

sammiedawg I'm sorry you encountered such problems but as you can read that is not always the situation.

 

 

 

Danni3ll3 I'm personally of the opinion (I know folks, you don't need to remind me) that the "skewed view" is due to the fact that those who don't smoke and have been bothered by it (or think they might be) are the most vocal on this thread while those who like you were not bothered or are themselves smokers remain quite.

 

Smokers remain quiet. Really! I've seen many, many vocal smokers. There are always smokers on here that say you can't smell smoke at all. That is simply not true. You may smell it on your balcony, you may not. I've smelled smoke more often than not.

[Danni3ll3]

I am one of those that can smell cigarette smoke a mile away even outdoors. I hate the smell of it and can't stand being around it since my clothes and hair absorb it. If this happens, I have to shower as soon as possible since the stench really bothers me. So I am definitely not a smoker and I truly never smelled cig smoke on our balcony. I believe I saw one person smoking on their balcony several cabins over and below us but the odour didn't reach us. And trust me, I took one big sniff to try and smell it.

Edited July 19, 2015 by Danni3ll3

[cruz chic]

I am one of those that can smell cigarette smoke a mile away even outdoors. I hate the smell of it and can't stand being around it since my clothes and hair absorb it. If this happens, I have to shower as soon as possible since the stench really bothers me. So I am definitely not a smoker and I truly never smelled cig smoke on our balcony. I believe I saw one person smoking on their balcony several cabins over and below us but the odour didn't reach us. And trust me, I took one big sniff to try and smell it.

 

Very happy for you. I see posts all the time saying "I never smell smoke" . That doesn't mean no one else has. It seems that some think if it doesn't happen to them it happens to no one.

[kennicott]

So, HAL still allows smoking on their balconies?

 

The last time I sailed HAL, they allowed smoking (cigarettes, pipes, cigars) in the dining room. Granted, that was 1966. ;)

 

We're booked on the Koningsdam for next year and have a very large balcony - one which I'd assume we'd be able to fully enjoy every day. That was until I started doing a bit more research. Heck, even Carnival has pulled the plug on cabin and balcony smoking. Granted, what's "allowed" and what people do in reality can differ!

 

My current favorite (mainstream) line policy is that of Celebrity - where one can actually breath smoke-free air even in the casino !

 

What's up with HAL ?

 

I have not bothered to read this entire thread (I don't have quite that much free time!) so can anyone tell me if they are open to input from guests - and if so, what might be the best way to pass along my opinion to them?

 

Hopefully, this will all be moot by November '16 !

 

Tom

 

Hi Tom,

 

That's pretty impressive, in that you sailed on HAL in 1966. We are Alaskans and I have/was in the travel game up here for years. Around 1970 Chuck West (West Tours and ships) sold out/merged with HAL. A lot of history detail surrounding that before and after.

 

More importantly, quite a few years later HAL became part of the Carnival Corp. family, even before most of the rest of today's conglomerate did.

 

So currently, HAL is a subsidiary of Carnival which combined them into the Holland American Group more than a year ago, in that group is the much larger line, Princess, as well as P&O Australia, Seabourne, and all of the combined Princess and HAL Alaska shore hotel, excursion and coach operations.

 

Unfortunately for HAL or maybe fortunately over the last year or so if you are a smoker, not by their own doing, all of the major cruise lines, including the HAL American Group as well as every line represented by the big three cruise conglomerates, have discontinued allowing balcony smoking. Meaning, HAL is the only game in town in that regard. Many worry that due that circumstance smokers will gravitate to Hal, leaving behind their other favored lines. Sometime back when this thread was created there was an element of doubt whether or not that should or should not be a concern. Unfortunately, facts as well as posts hereon prove that it is a definitely a significant issue.

 

Now, in our case we are HAL four stars, close to 200 sailing days with them, and honestly we are not paranoid about a whiff of smoke now and then on our voyages. But we are also cruisers who book balconies, if not available we do not book, plus we book the long ones, longest being three months on HAL. That said, we do draw the line over taking a chance of having chain smoking cigar smokers on our nearby balconies for days on end. Consequently, we have canceled two HAL cruises and booked instead with Princess, as we don't want to chance it, those two cruises amounted to about 85 days of sailing.

 

Anyway, I do encourage you to go ahead with your Koningsdam cruise and post afterward, after all, this on-board smoking dilemma is a fairly recent development and negative ramifications, if any, have not actually had the chance to really materialize yet. I for one stay tuned in here and post now and then, like I'm doing now for that reason, if pertinent events change, for better or worse, at least we will remain informed.

Edited July 19, 2015 by kennicott