Holland America Line has announced that they will ban smoking on the balconies of their cruise ships beginning in early 2017.
Holland America Line is the last mainstream cruise line that serves the North American cruise market to make this change. Cruise lines have slowly made the change over the past few years and smoking is no longer allowed in staterooms or on balconies on all major cruise lines.
The cruise line said that the reason for the change was “to better align with guest wishes and health concerns”. This change will begin to rollout on January 2, 2017 on Maasdam and Rotterdam, and most Holland ships will adapt this new policy by the middle of January.
Vaping devices and e-cigarettes will be permitted in staterooms (not balconies), as well as the designated smoking areas on each ship. Smoking will also be permitted in the ship’s casinos, with an exception for the two ships (Eurodam and Oosterdam) that have smoke free casinos.
A cleaning fee of $250 will be charged to a passenger’s on board account who violate the smoking ban.
think there should be some compromise…I’ve been a smoker and a non smoker and I understand how offensive it can be and the second hand smoke…maybe a questionnaire when guest are booking balconies room…and group the smokers together…if you want to ban them ban them all together..and what’s up with you can smoke a vapor cigg in your cabin but not on balcony wth…may have to start doing all inclusives vs cruising…I usually only smoke on vacation..or go ahead and charge the smokers extra upfront…don’t think it’s a safety issue with ships they used to provide proper ashtrays for the balconies…you gonna ban babies from crying, people from getting drunk and being loud. Don’t be surprised is you see a decrease in business. Maybe a new cruise line will open…Smoking HOT…or may just have to give up cruising…part of the balcony that’s appealing is to be able to have your own little private place. If anything I think less people will be cruising vs more people cruising…but time will tell.