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Topic: Smoking - HAL?

Cambodge
First Class Passenger
Member # 906

posted 09-17-2000 11:35 AM

I am making this a separate posting, as I am considering a cruise on either Maasdam or Statendam within the next year.

One of the negatives I have seen on a cruise review site - and I have been to so many this AM I am not sure which one - is "Non-smokers should avoid this ship, smokers are everywhere."

True?

Posts: 2149 | From: St. Michaels MD USA , the town that fooled the British! | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 09-17-2000 12:03 PM

FALSE - where did you see/hear this?

1. Dining Room - smoking only on Upper Promenade, Starboard side. Lower Prom NO SMOKING- Upper Prom - port side - NO
2. Explorer's Lounge - one side has Smoking, but half the time these tables are taken by non-smokers - little secion hidden in back - smoking.
3. Lido Buffet - a few smoking tables on the Starboard side.
4. Lido Pool - Smoking Starboard side - NO Smoking on Port Side.
5. Theatre and show lounge - NO SMOKING.
6. Library - no smoking
7. Crow's Nest - smoking on one side and NO SMOKING on other side
8. Casino Lounge - some ships have smoking some NO smoking
Casino is SMOKING, but ventilation is very good.
Again, I don't know why someone would write a review and say "non-smokers should avoid this ship". That is so untrue.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

topgun
First Class Passenger
Member # 928

posted 09-17-2000 12:09 PM

I recall the post but can't locate it.
I am reasonably certain that it related to ships with a large number of Europeans on board.
Certainly HAL was OK last time I was aboard.

Posts: 759 | From: Burlington ont,canada Cruise center of North America | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

Justine
First Class Passenger
Member # 1335

posted 09-17-2000 02:57 PM

Im'always a step behind Sympatico but she's absolutely right. I am terribly inconvenienced by smoke and I have never had a problem on HAL ships. There are enough venues and designated non smoking areas. The only place where I may be inconvenienced a bit is the casino. If I find a machine that is good, a smoker comes along next to me so I move. No big deal. I have not yet been on a European cruise so perhaps there is a bigger smoking crowd there. Hope someone will let me know before I book my Baltic cruise.

Posts: 126 | From: Northern Ontario | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

James
First Class Passenger
Member # 1351

posted 09-17-2000 08:59 PM

We took a transAtlantic cruise on the Maasdam last year and are very sensitive to smoke. We found absolutely no problem anywhere. We aren't casino people so can't speak for that.

Posts: 202 | From: Illinois, Home of Lincoln and great graft | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 09-17-2000 09:24 PM

In addition to what sympatico said about
the designated areas, The Statendam and
Maasdam have excellent ventilation systems
that seems to take care of unwanted smoke
very nicely. Not to worry!!

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Cambodge
First Class Passenger
Member # 906

posted 09-18-2000 08:44 AM

Thanks to all for the info. Since reading your responses I retraced my steps, and found the site in question. Namely Expedia Cruises
http://www.expedia.com/daily/ships/P19684.asp

I suppose I would like your collective reactions to their comments, which are, as a whole positive. Food, for example?

Posts: 2149 | From: St. Michaels MD USA , the town that fooled the British! | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

Justine
First Class Passenger
Member # 1335

posted 09-18-2000 12:02 PM

I would hardly call Max Ward's rating unbiased. He does favour ships with European service, and has a strong penchant for ships witch treat different classes differently. On the whole his observations are consistent so if you read his book, you know where he stands. His biggest beef about HAL ships is the breads, he calls the food bland, and does not like Dining room service that is not entirely English. The poor man cannot seem capable of communication with dining room stewards. I suggest you read his entire book to get a better idea of his preferences. There is not much chance that I as a working person will ever meet him on board anywhere.

Posts: 126 | From: Northern Ontario | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

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