All Ocean bars are not the same

[m steve]

Really missed the friendliness of the bartenders and the passengers who were regulars before late seating every night and the bartenders made us little bistro sets from champagne corks and wires and a farewell origami sign with our names, cruise dates and their names. It's on display at home. Westerdam only had indoor smoking in the casino. We drank in our cabin rather than haul off to the casino to have a smoke. They lost several hundred $ that we spend on pre and after dinner drinks.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We got a Bristro set when we were on the Westerdam last year -- Crow's Nest bartenders.

Are you saying that the Ocean Bar is now non smoking?

When we were on the Noordam, the HM announced that the Ocean Bar would become non smoking beginning Feb 22.

[Koshlong]

We were given a bistro set in the dining room on the Noordam(Louie (sp?)). One of the other wine stewards offered to buy it from us. He was leaving the Noordam and said he always left a souvenir sculpture in one of the bars. We're going to be back on her in the Mediterranean and are looking forward to searching for it.:)

[solocanadian]

Really missed the friendliness of the bartenders and the passengers who were regulars before late seating every night and the bartenders made us little bistro sets from champagne corks and wires and a farewell origami sign with our names, cruise dates and their names. It's on display at home. Westerdam only had indoor smoking in the casino. We drank in our cabin rather than haul off to the casino to have a smoke. They lost several hundred $ that we spend on pre and after dinner drinks.

Guess my cabin will see a lot more of me before dinner if there is no smoking in the Ocean Bar on the Ryndam 24 April Sailing and HAL will be without the $400 plus gratuity that I usually spend there and in the Crows Nest after dinner.:confused:

[marle7]

Is there no smoking in the Crow's nest either? I can live without giving HAL a lot of money in bars without smoking. We'll just hang on the balcony.

[garydm]

Is there finally one non smoking bar on the ships? HAL revenues up from me!

 

Gary

[michmike]

Folks were smoking in the ocean bar on westerdam 2/1 sailing. Not a lot of them but some. We are non-smokers but tolerant, and I really didn't notice whether there were ash trays on the tables or whether these were rogue smokers.. seems there could be a smoking section..

 

all I know is that if they ever try to treat twinkie eaters the way they do smokers, the war will be on.. *S*

[KirkNC]

Is there finally one non smoking bar on the ships? HAL revenues up from me!

 

Gary

 

And me;)

[kryos]

Guess my cabin will see a lot more of me before dinner if there is no smoking in the Ocean Bar on the Ryndam 24 April Sailing and HAL will be without the $400 plus gratuity that I usually spend there and in the Crows Nest after dinner.:confused:

I've been told that the Ocean Bar is now non-smoking fleetwide. The only indoor smoking public areas that I know of are now the Casino Bar and the Crow's Nest ... which kind of sucks. That Crow's Nest is an absolute icebox during the daytime. :(

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[kryos]

Is there finally one non smoking bar on the ships? HAL revenues up from me!

 

Gary

Huh? The Explorer's Lounge, the Piano Bar, and a couple of other small ones I can't think of right now have always been non-smoking. The only bar on the Upper Promenade Deck that allowed smoking was I think the Casino Bar and a small area in the Ocean Bar. When I was on the Veendam several years back, even the casino had alternating smoke and smoke-free nights. If it was a smoke-free night, then even the Casino Bar was no smoking. The only place left was the Ocean Bar. I know that for a fact because our dinners were taking very long, and sometimes the smokers at the table would want a cigarette. If it was a smoke-free night in the casino, we had to walk clear back to the other end of the ship ... to the Ocean Bar ... to have one. No other bars on that deck allowed smoking.

 

With the Ocean Bar gone, that will leave just the Casino and the Casino Bar. If ever the casino goes back to alternating smoke and smoke-free nights, that will mean that even the Casino Bar will be non-smoking on certain nights. Pretty much all smokers have been relegated to the Crow's Nest.

 

I honestly don't think smokers had very many options to begin with. So, really ... what more do you want?

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[innlady1]

Really missed the friendliness of the bartenders and the passengers who were regulars before late seating every night and the bartenders made us little bistro sets from champagne corks and wires and a farewell origami sign with our names, cruise dates and their names. It's on display at home. Westerdam only had indoor smoking in the casino. We drank in our cabin rather than haul off to the casino to have a smoke. They lost several hundred $ that we spend on pre and after dinner drinks.

 

The wine steward in the dining room handed out two of those on our recent Noordam cruise....I watched him. He had a large section of tables, but only passed out two. I guess those folks must have spent a ton/tipped a good amount to have scored! Last year our wine steward in the dining room gave little chairs...not the entire set. I still have mine.

[Dolphins]

My only complaint about the Ocean Bars on most HAL ships is that they are really too small for dancing. On the newer Vista class ships, the Ocean Bar is on both sides of the atrium and the dance floor is even smaller. Quite a contrast from the Spinakker Lounge dance floor on most NCL ships.

[marle7]

I've been told that the Ocean Bar is now non-smoking fleetwide. The only indoor smoking public areas that I know of are now the Casino Bar and the Crow's Nest ... which kind of sucks. That Crow's Nest is an absolute icebox during the daytime. :(

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

 

It's my understanding that the Northern Lights on the bar side and the sports bar still have smoking sections. At least according to HAL yesterday. If not, no worries, we'll save loads on our bar bill!

[sail7seas]

Marle.......

 

The "S" and "R" Class ships do not have Northern Lights nor Sports Bar. They are only on Vista and Signature Class. :)

 

On the "S" and "R" ships, the Casino bar doubles as sports bar. Smoking always has been permitted there but if there is no smoking night in Casino they would (presumably) ban smoking at Casino Bar on such a night.

 

[marle7]

Marle.......

 

The "S" and "R" Class ships do not have Northern Lights nor Sports Bar. They are only on Vista and Signature Class. :)

 

On the "S" and "R" ships, the Casino bar doubles as sports bar. Smoking always has been permitted there but if there is no smoking night in Casino they would (presumably) ban smoking at Casino Bar on such a night.

 

 

Fair enough. But I was referring to the Westerdam anyway, since (a) that's what I'm sailing on, and (b) that's what the OP posted about. :)

[garydm]

Rita-thanks for the information that the Piano Bar is smoke free. We will give it a try. Last time we attempted to get a drink there it was not.

 

Gary

[m steve]

The Ocean bar on the Westerdam was non smoking. On Noordam, there were just the bar stools and 4 tables that had smoking permitted signs. Is that so terrible for the smoke haters to let others enjoy? I think that the dance floor was small but very few people danced before dinner. One couple used so much of the floor with swirls, etc. that they removed one table and 4 seats. They spent the day rehearsing showing off. If they stop smoking in the Ocean bar on all the ships I guess we'll save alot on our on board expenses. I am sure that they won't improve their revenue from the non smokers. They also seemed to take up tables and not order drinks.

[usha]

The Ocean bar on the Westerdam was non smoking.

When did that start? On our Westerdam b2b last month, there were people smoking on both sides of the Ocean bar.

[m steve]

and the bartenders said there was no smoking allowed. Their loss in revenue and tips.

[usha]

Hmmmmmmmmm????

We sailed the 1st & 8th of February, and there were people smoking. (Evidently, enforcement was spotty:()

[KirkNC]

Huh? The Explorer's Lounge, the Piano Bar, and a couple of other small ones I can't think of right now have always been non-smoking. The only bar on the Upper Promenade Deck that allowed smoking was I think the Casino Bar and a small area in the Ocean Bar. When I was on the Veendam several years back, even the casino had alternating smoke and smoke-free nights. If it was a smoke-free night, then even the Casino Bar was no smoking. The only place left was the Ocean Bar. I know that for a fact because our dinners were taking very long, and sometimes the smokers at the table would want a cigarette. If it was a smoke-free night in the casino, we had to walk clear back to the other end of the ship ... to the Ocean Bar ... to have one. No other bars on that deck allowed smoking.

 

With the Ocean Bar gone, that will leave just the Casino and the Casino Bar. If ever the casino goes back to alternating smoke and smoke-free nights, that will mean that even the Casino Bar will be non-smoking on certain nights. Pretty much all smokers have been relegated to the Crow's Nest.

 

I honestly don't think smokers had very many options to begin with. So, really ... what more do you want?

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

 

I want the same as I get in the heart of tobacco country. I live in NC and in 99% of public places you can't smoke. It is bad for you, it is bad for everyone around you when you "share" with us. On our Feb cruise on the Veendam, the casino looked like it was on fire. The stink spread on the whole deck.

[sylteach]

Are people still permitted to smoke outside on the aft area of the Navigation Deck on the Ryndam? I won't have a balcony, so I figured I could go out back there and use that deck. I never smoke indoors anyways.

[jimmy2x]

I want the same as I get in the heart of tobacco country. I live in NC and in 99% of public places you can't smoke. It is bad for you, it is bad for everyone around you when you "share" with us. On our Feb cruise on the Veendam, the casino looked like it was on fire. The stink spread on the whole deck.

 

Well - this will probably get deleted, but here goes. The list of non-smoking places on any HAL ship far exceed the few that one can smoke in. Most of us that do smoke, have made the accommodation with little or no complaint . When you confine those that DO smoke to a very few places, than those places will no doubt reek of stale tobacco smoke. Just what did you expect?

 

Somehow I doubt that the"casino looked like it was on fire" or that the "stink spread on the whole deck".

 

No doubt it is your devout wish that no one smoked anywhere within your purview and it is obvious that you have plenty of supporters. There ARE cruise lines where that is pretty much the way things are. I suspect that the large "mass market" lines are not willing to alienate that stubborn 20% of adult smokers. My TA has told me that it is virtually impossible to put together a group cruise on Celebrity, but Celebrity is a much smaller line, with not nearly the passenger capacity of HAL, RCCL, Princess or Carnival. There are a lot of berths to fill and, at least for the foreseeable future, they will continue to accommodate us.

 

You may get your wish in the end, but in the meantime, we are all going to have to get along. May I politely suggest that the constant sniping about it, just aggravates the other side. Sometimes to the point where the more boorish of that 20% will push the established boundaries. That is not a good outcome for anyone.

 

For the record, I do not smoke in areas not permitted, and never will. If the restrictions become heavier than they already are - well, there are other vacation venues that I, and most of that stubborn 20% (along with many non-smoking spouses), will migrate to.

[Boytjie]

and the bartenders said there was no smoking allowed. Their loss in revenue and tips.

 

Or maybe not. :)

[MadManOfBethesda]

Are people still permitted to smoke outside on the aft area of the Navigation Deck on the Ryndam? I won't have a balcony, so I figured I could go out back there and use that deck. I never smoke indoors anyways.

 

Yes (well, at least until the Ryndam goes into dry dock). In fact, that was the only locale where cigar smoking was allowed on my cruise in January.