The cruise line has done something that suggests a big rumor will come true.
Wonder of the Seas, the newest member of Royal Caribbean (RCL) – Get a free report The Oasis class was built to sail out of China. That’s why the newest ship in the fleet and the largest cruise ship in the world has a few touches that other ships in this class don’t offer.
Many of those differences are cosmetic and one big difference, the first Mason Jar Southern food restaurant of its kind, might have been intended to give the Chinese market a taste of the United States, but the American public also enjoys chicken and waffles. , southern breakfast favorites and unique cocktails.
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In reality, Wonder of the Seas has very few differences from its Oasis-class predecessors. However, the big change may soon be brought to her sister ships retroactively.
Wonder of the Seas has a secondary casino near the comedy club and Diamond Longue (a private space for high-end Crown and Anchor loyalty). The space, called the “Golden Room,” occupies the area that usually houses the little-used “Jazz on 4” performance venue.
The Golden Room was intended to be a space for high rollers, who are a larger market for Royal Caribbean in China than in the US. When the ship was relocated to sail from Miami instead of China, the Golden Room was reinvented as a free casino.
It’s a relatively small room that has a selection of slot machines, a few table games and is absolutely no smoking. That’s different from Royal Caribbean’s main Casino Royale, which has both smoking and non-smoking areas (with no real barriers between the two).
It has been widely rumored that Royal Caribbean planned to turn “Jazz on 4” into a smoke-free casino on all Oasis-class ships. The cruise line hasn’t confirmed that, but an email it recently sent to some passengers on two upcoming Harmony of the Seas voyages suggests this change could be in the works.
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Harmony of the Seas Build Event
Royal Caribbean has recently been upgrading the slot machines on many of their ships. This has been happening during voyages with the cruise line trying to minimize the impact on customers by plugging in the new machines while the casino is closed.
That’s a typical challenge of doing any job on a cruise ship while passengers are on board. Sometimes it’s necessary (and it’s cheaper for the cruise line than canceling a voyage to get the job done) and that’s what’s happening on Harmony of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean sent an email to Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle members to inform them that some events that usually take place in the Diamond Lounge, a space next to “Jazz on 4”, will be moved.
“From February 26, 2023 to March 12, 2023, we will be making some improvements to Deck 4. During this time, we kindly ask you to excuse our dust. Due to the proximity of the Diamond Lounge to these efforts, we will be hosting our morning and evening Diamond Lounge at alternate locations,” the cruise line shared.
The hall won’t actually be closed, but the two events that take place each day there that involve food will be moved.
Royal Caribbean has not confirmed what work will be done and if it is “Jazz on 4”. The cruise line did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the possible changes.
A change to smoking at Royal Caribbean Casino would make sense
Royal Caribbean allows smoking in parts of the casino and on certain outdoor terraces. The cruise company has made the casinos on its Celebrity line smoke-free and there are calls to do so on Royal Caribbean’s namesake brand.
The problem (and the reason the company hasn’t made that change) is that every time Royal Caribbean has tried a smoke-free casino, it makes less money.)
“Every, I would say, every two years, we try this and we take one or two or three boats and we ban smoking in the casino. And the result is that fewer people go into the casino and that’s the reality. Royal Caribbean Group Chairman Michael Bayley, explained during his annual conference president’s cruise.
Creating a smoke-free secondary casino would solve that problem or at least give players who don’t want to be exposed to secondhand smoke a place to play.
