This Holland America line Alaska cruise on the Noordham was sold to us as an add-on to the Rocky Mountaineer experience. Our cabin was an upgrade from the standard cabin Rocky Mountaineer usually books as an add-on. It was spacious with a large bed, the washroom had a separate bath and shower and the outside verandah had a table and chairs.
Now for the bad news. During our conversations with Rocky Mountaineer and Holland America, no one ever mentioned that smoking was allowed on board the ship. After we booked our trip and paid, an information package was made available after we checked in online. This information package directs the reader to find another document which describes the Holland America smoking policy.
My wife and I are non smokers. The smoking areas on the ship are restricted to the casino area, the rear top deck outside lounge and the outside verandahs of the cabins. We expected to be able to sit on our verandah and enjoy the scenery and fresh sea air. Instead smoke from the neighbouring verandah constantly drifted over and made our verandah unusable. We asked the ship's front office for a change of cabin and we were offered another one, but the staff would not ask the occupants of the neighbouring cabins if they were smokers. There was no guarantee that the new cabin would not have smoking neighbours so we declined to change cabins as our existing one was quiet and comfortable.
Smoking allowed on verandas !!!!!!