BUTT OUT Holland America bans smoking on balconies
BUTT OUT Holland America bans smoking on balconies
Holland America Line will eliminate smoking on the balconies of its ships starting in 2017. HAL was the last sizeable cruise line based in North America to still allow the practice. It said it was making the change “to better align with guest wishes and health concerns.”
Most other cruise lines banned smoking on balconies in the last few years. Enforcement will begin on the Rotterdam and Maasdam on Jan. 2 and will be rolled out on most other ships the first two weeks in January. The policy will take effect on the Amsterdam on April 26 and on the Prinsendam May 6, HAL said. All HAL ships will continue to have outdoor public areas where smoking is permitted. Smoking is also allowed indoors in the Oak Room on the Noordam, and (with the exception of the Oosterdam and Eurodam) in ship casinos in designated areas where slot machines are being played.