Single Smoking Thread (Use for all smoking discussions on HAL) )

[bEwAbG]

Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles: they updated the smoking policy in the FAQ of the website.  I've added emphasis for the part that changed re: casinos. 

 

The designated smoking areas for all ships are as follows unless otherwise noted:

• Sun Bar on Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam
• Sports Deck forward and aft of Crow’s Nest on starboard side on Maasdam, Veendam, Volendam, Zaandam, Rotterdam and Amsterdam
• Oak Room on Noordam only, including cigar and pipe smoking
• Onboard Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, Westerdam, Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam the casinos are non-smoking. Onboard all other Holland America Line ships, smoking is allowed in the casinos except for non-smoking days.

Of course, they didn't make the same edit to the Know Before You Go booklet for 2019.

[thyme2go]

3 hours ago, HELENPSL said:

You can't smoke in the Crow's Nest.  You have to go to the Lido Deck which is deck 8 on this ship.  You can smoke near the seaview bar at the back of the ship.  The only other place to smoke is in the casino if you are playing.  That's about it!!

Helen

  Thank you Helen!   The description on HAL's website left a lot to be desired in terms of where smoking area's are.  

[thyme2go]

7 minutes ago, bEwAbG said:

Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles: they updated the smoking policy in the FAQ of the website.  I've added emphasis for the part that changed re: casinos. 

 

The designated smoking areas for all ships are as follows unless otherwise noted:

• Sun Bar on Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam
• Sports Deck forward and aft of Crow’s Nest on starboard side on Maasdam, Veendam, Volendam, Zaandam, Rotterdam and Amsterdam
• Oak Room on Noordam only, including cigar and pipe smoking
• Onboard Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, Westerdam, Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam the casinos are non-smoking. Onboard all other Holland America Line ships, smoking is allowed in the casinos except for non-smoking days.

Of course, they didn't make the same edit to the Know Before You Go booklet for 2019.

OKAY, this is what I read........so does this mean that smokers ARE in the Crow's Nest?  or outside of it on deck?  Sorry to be so confused....... the idea of having to walk through smoke to get to a viewing location is poor!!

[*Miss G*]

Agree it is very poorly written. I am also confused.  As well, the Sun Bar on the Koningsdam?  Never saw anyone up there, smoking or non-smoking, but the smoking section was always on the Lido deck.  First on the port side and currently on the starboard side.

[HELENPSL]

3 hours ago, *Miss G* said:

Agree it is very poorly written. I am also confused.  As well, the Sun Bar on the Koningsdam?  Never saw anyone up there, smoking or non-smoking, but the smoking section was always on the Lido deck.  First on the port side and currently on the starboard side.

Don't be confused.  I've been up on the Sun Deck and no one is ever up there because it's too windy.  NO - you cannot smoke in the Crow's nest.  You can smoke at the back of the Lido Deck and you can smoke at the designated smoking slot machines in the casino if you are playing.  Those are the only smoking areas on the ship.

Helen

[RuthC]

3 hours ago, thyme2go said:

OKAY, this is what I read........so does this mean that smokers ARE in the Crow's Nest?  or outside of it on deck? 

It means that on the six ships specified (the smallest ships in the fleet when the Prinsendam leaves), people can smoke on the Sports Deck. That deck is outside, near the Crows Nest---which is inside.

[thyme2go]

Thanks Ruth........

[sloth]

19 hours ago, *Miss G* said:

Agree it is very poorly written. I am also confused.  As well, the Sun Bar on the Koningsdam?  Never saw anyone up there, smoking or non-smoking, but the smoking section was always on the Lido deck.  First on the port side and currently on the starboard side.

The Sun Bar is a designated smoking area...if the bar is staffed and open.  We sailed on the Koningsdam in  2018 and it was open. Last month, it was never open during our cruise, and we were told by a bartender at the Sea View Bar that they were short staffed and not enough bartenders accommodate it.

[*Miss G*]

Sorry, I should have been clearer.  My point is that the “updated” FAQ is still incorrect.

[Debbborra]

This is different sort of smoking question. Can you buy cigarettes on the boat? (Specifically tge Noordam) 

[KroozNut]

On 2/24/2019 at 2:31 PM, Debbborra said:

This is different sort of smoking question. Can you buy cigarettes on the boat? (Specifically tge Noordam) 

 

Yes, you can purchase duty free cigarettes in the shops onboard the ships.

[Debbborra]

Thank you! 

[Fouremco]

24 minutes ago, KroozNut said:

 

Yes, you can purchase duty free cigarettes in the shops onboard the ships.

Like duty free liquor, I assume that these would be delivered to your cabin on the final day of the cruise. I possibly misinterpreted Debbborra's query to mean can you buy them for immediate consumption.

[Debbborra]

Thank you, yes. I meant for smoking as we go. (These days I only smoke on vacation) 

[Fouremco]

2 hours ago, Debbborra said:

Thank you, yes. I meant for smoking as we go. (These days I only smoke on vacation) 

I could be wrong, but I don't recall having seen any other than in the duty free shop. Then again, I'm a non-smoker and I might have seen some without them registering.

[KroozNut]

4 hours ago, Fouremco said:

Like duty free liquor, I assume that these would be delivered to your cabin on the final day of the cruise. I possibly misinterpreted Debbborra's query to mean can you buy them for immediate consumption.

 

Actually they're not treated the same way as liquor. You're allowed to take them right back to you're cabin. You can either save them for home, or break them open and smoke them onboard (in the designated area of course); it's you're choice.

[Fouremco]

1 minute ago, KroozNut said:

 

Actually they're not treated the same way as liquor. You're allowed to take them right back to you're cabin. You can either save them for home, or break them open and smoke them onboard (in the designated area of course); it's you're choice.

Thanks for the clarification. Debbborra will be happy!

[Debbborra]

Thanks. How exciting 🙂

 

[SWFLAOK]

And if anyone is still booked on the Prinsendam before it leaves the fleet, anywhere that smoking was allowed was heavily used by smokers on the holiday cruise. The most annoying was the port side of the pool deck toward the front of the ship. No one wanted to sit at the tables on that side since the smoke was blown back along that side.  I'm not sure why the aft part of the ship isn't the only designated smoking area.

[KroozNut]

On 2/23/2019 at 3:50 PM, thyme2go said:

The description on HAL's website left a lot to be desired in terms of where smoking area's are.  

 

Actually HAL is pretty clear on their smoking policy, you just need to do your homework..

[OCruisers]

On 2/28/2019 at 3:52 PM, KroozNut said:

 

Actually they're not treated the same way as liquor. You're allowed to take them right back to you're cabin. You can either save them for home, or break them open and smoke them onboard (in the designated area of course); it's you're choice.

 

Per above ... no problem to take them with you for your use or as gifts to your smoking friends back at home!  

[cruisen cracker]

To anyone who's been on the Koningsdam lately.  Does the smoke still drift down the staircase from the casino to the music walk?  On our last cruise in November of 2017, it was really bad.  We have an upcoming cruise and i hope something has been done.

[killsport]

On 3/30/2019 at 1:31 PM, cruisen cracker said:

To anyone who's been on the Koningsdam lately.  Does the smoke still drift down the staircase from the casino to the music walk?  On our last cruise in November of 2017, it was really bad.  We have an upcoming cruise and i hope something has been done.

I can't speak to the Koningsdam, but the Nieuw Statendam (same layout, I believe) still had the same issue last week. 🤬

[edgee]

1 hour ago, killsport said:

I can't speak to the Koningsdam, but the Nieuw Statendam (same layout, I believe) still had the same issue last week. 🤬

HAL had a great chance to make progress on the health/smoking issue by having a non smoking casino on their newest ship, the Nieuw Statendam. Their decision to allow smoking on that ship's casino shows that they have no interest in such progress. We limit our cruising to the five ships that have NS casinos...would love to try the newer ships, but will not until they get rid of smoking in casinos (which also affects other public areas of the ship.)

[Turtles06]

On 4/1/2019 at 11:16 AM, edgee said:

HAL had a great chance to make progress on the health/smoking issue by having a non smoking casino on their newest ship, the Nieuw Statendam. Their decision to allow smoking on that ship's casino shows that they have no interest in such progress.

 

It really is mind-boggling that HAL allows this on a beautiful, brand new ship, especially as it has prohibited smoking in the casinos on some of the older ships.