Another Cruise Line Bans Smoking on Balconies
Holland America joins the roster of cruise lines to ban smoking on balconies.
Has this happened to you? You’re relaxing on your balcony, gazing out at the sea, slowly breathing the soul-cleansing salt air and…gasp! Your next-door neighbor decides to forego the short walk to the designated cigar lounge and instead lights up on his balcony. Well, no more on Holland America.
As of 2017, Holland America joins the ranks of major cruise lines to prohibit smoking on their stateroom verandahs.
As stated in their press release: No smoking of any kind will be permitted on any stateroom verandah. Smoking of cigarettes, cigars and pipes is already not permitted in any stateroom.
The new policy has been announced to better align with guest wishes and health concerns.
The new smoking policy takes effect on all ships on the following dates (as well as any combination cruise spanning these dates):
SHIP NEW SMOKING POLICY BEGINS
ms Maasdam January 2, 2017
ms Rotterdam January 2, 2017
ms Volendam January 3, 2017
ms Noordam January 4, 2017
ms Veendam January 4, 2017
ms Zuiderdam January 4, 2017
ms Nieuw Amsterdam January 6, 2017
ms Eurodam January 7, 2017
ms Westerdam January 7, 2017
ms Koningsdam January 8, 2017
ms Zaandam January 10, 2017
ms Oosterdam January 13, 2017
ms Amsterdam April 26, 2017
ms Prinsendam May 6, 2017
For guests who need to smoke, designated smoking areas for all ships are as follows unless otherwise indicated:
Tobacco products including cigarettes, cigars and pipes:
Permitted Outdoors
Sea View (Retreat) Bar/Pool on starboard side. On ms Prinsendam, ms Koningsdam and ms Nieuw Statendam, smoking allowed on the port side. Smoking is never on both sides.
Sun Bar on ms Koningsdam and ms Nieuw Statendam.
Sports Deck forward and aft of Crow’s Nest on starboard side on ms Maasdam, ms Veendam, ms Volendam, ms Zaandam, ms Rotterdam and ms Amsterdam, aft of Crow’s Nest starboard side.
Permitted Indoors
Oak Room on ms Noordam only. Designated areas for active slot players in Casinos. On ms Oosterdam and ms Eurodam casinos are completely non-smoking, however.
Not Permitted:
Inside all staterooms/suites.
On any stateroom/suite verandahs.
E-cigarettes and Vaping devices:
Permitted:
Inside all staterooms/suites.
Designated smoking areas listed above.
Not Permitted:
On any stateroom/suite verandahs.
Other public areas.
Any guest who smokes inside staterooms or verandahs in violation of our policy will be charged a US$250 cleaning fee per day of violation and will risk being removed from the ship for repeated violations.
