Cruising is a popular vacation option for many travelers, offering a luxurious escape from everyday life. However, for some passengers, their experience is being marred by a common pet peeve: onboard casinos that allow unrestricted smoking.
One such cruise line that has come under fire for their smoking policies is Holland America, specifically on the Rotterdam ship. Many loyal customers have expressed their frustration with the lack of restrictions in the casino area, where smoking is allowed without any designated smoking areas or ventilation systems in place.
One disgruntled passenger, who wished to remain anonymous, described the casino as a “smoky nightmare” that made it difficult to enjoy the gaming experience. “I love to gamble, but the constant cloud of smoke in the air was unbearable. I had to leave the casino several times just to catch my breath,” they said.
Several other passengers have taken to social media and online forums to voice their displeasure with Holland America’s smoking policies. One frequent cruiser, who goes by the username @CruiseAddict123 on Twitter, tweeted, “I love everything about Holland America except for the smoking in the casino. It’s a shame that such a beautiful ship is tainted by the smell of cigarettes.”
Despite the complaints, Holland America has defended their smoking policy, stating that they adhere to international regulations regarding smoking onboard ships. They also noted that smoking is only permitted in designated areas, such as the casino and certain outdoor decks.
However, many passengers argue that a lack of proper ventilation in the casino area exacerbates the issue, leading to a pervasive smell of smoke throughout the ship. Some have even suggested that Holland America should consider implementing stricter smoking policies, similar to other cruise lines that have designated smoking lounges with specialized ventilation systems.
As the debate over smoking policies on cruise ships continues, loyal customers of Holland America and other cruise lines are left to weigh the benefits of onboard amenities against the potential drawbacks of unrestricted smoking in certain areas. For now, it seems that this pet peeve will continue to be a divisive issue among cruisers.