More Bad News For Us Smokers !!!!

Holland America have announced that they that they are now also following suite of all other cruise liners and banning smoking on their balconies.

This new enforcement will come in to effect from January 2017.

Holland America is the last major US cruise line to enforce the smoking ban, they have said that the new enforcement was making the change “to better align with guest wishes and health concerns.”

Holland America’s ban on “no smoking on balconies” will be rolled over their fleet in five months which will be on a staggered schedule as shown below :

• January 2, 2017— Maasdam and Rotterdam
• January 3, 2017— Volendam
• January 4, 2017— Veendam, Zuiderdam and Noordam
• January 6, 2017— Nieuw Amsterdam
• January 7, 2017— Eurodam and Westerdam
• January 8, 2017— Koningsdam
• January 10, 2017— Zaandam
• January 13, 2017— Oosterdam
• April 26, 2017— Amsterdam
• May 6, 2017– Prinsendam

For us smokers there will still be areas you can enjoy a cigarette, such as the Sea View Retreat, bars/pools and on the Sports Deck. There will be smoking-designated areas for active slot players which will be located in all casinos.

One thing I will say though if you are on the Oosterdam and Eurodam, their casinos will be entirely smoke-free casinos.

Over the last few years we have seen NCL, RCCL, Carnival, Princess, P&O and Cunard all banning smoking on balconies, so this news isn’t too much of a surprise to me.

If you dare think it would be ok to smoke in your stateroom , you will be looking at a very hefty fine of $250 cleaning fee per day of violation and will risk being removed from the ship.