Cruise company Royal Caribbean has announced plans to open a new fully smoke free casino aboard Oasis of the Seas. The gaming space will be created by repurposing the area outside the Studio B entertainment venue. The project continues a course the operator has been pursuing for several seasons, steadily adding large smoke-free gaming floors to its ships.
The trend reflects growing demand from passengers who prefer spending time at gaming tables free from tobacco smoke. While cruise ship casinos were once almost inevitably associated with a haze of cigar smoke, companies are now being compelled to rethink their smoke free approach in order to attract a broader audience.
What did customer surveys reveal?
Before launching the project, Royal Caribbean conducted a series of surveys among returning guests to gauge interest in onboard casino gaming. The results were telling: the majority of respondents viewed the idea positively, though they acknowledged that they rarely visit casinos in everyday life. Even those with an interest in gambling noted a preference for playing online. Among the most popular online formats, survey participants cited Deal or No Deal game online, Aviator, and various slots. Yet it was precisely these individuals who most frequently said that, after their usual sessions in front of a screen, they genuinely enjoyed sitting at a live table during a cruise. The atmosphere, interaction with a dealer, and the sense of being on a voyage created an entirely different experience — one that the digital format cannot replicate. It appears that this contrast ultimately convinced the company that a smoke-free casino would find its audience on Oasis of the Seas.
What will change onboard as a result of the refurbishment
Creating the new casino will require significant reconfiguration of several areas aboard the ship. The infrastructure changes will affect multiple decks and locations familiar to repeat guests.
The key elements of the refurbishment are as follows:
- Crown Lounge will be relocated to Deck 15, where the lounge will occupy a new space.
- Blaze, the nightclub and late-night lounge, will close permanently on September 6, 2026.
- Teen Lounge on Deck 15 will be temporarily unavailable during the construction period.
The decision to close Blaze may draw a mixed reaction from fans of onboard nightlife. That said, the choice to prioritize a smoke-free casino suggests the company sees greater commercial potential and broader passenger appeal in this direction.
A period of disruption for passengers on autumn sailings
Guests sailing aboard Oasis of the Seas between September 10 and October 11, 2026, should be prepared for potential inconveniences. Construction work and the temporary closure or relocation of certain areas may limit access to familiar spaces onboard.
Such construction periods on active cruise ships are not uncommon in the industry. Cruise operators make every effort to minimize the impact on the passenger experience; however, completely avoiding noise and restrictions during large-scale refurbishments is not always possible.
The new casino’s opening will coincide with the launch of short cruises from Florida
The full debut of the smoke-free casino is expected around November 9, 2026. The date is no coincidence: it closely aligns with the start of a series of short cruises that Oasis of the Seas will operate from the port of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Short itineraries traditionally attract passengers for whom a cruise is more of a weekend getaway than an extended voyage. The presence of a modern smoke-free casino has the potential to serve as an additional draw when choosing this particular ship. Royal Caribbean’s decision to align the two events appears sound from a marketing perspective.
Oasis of the Seas and its class
Oasis of the Seas belongs to the Oasis class, which comprises some of the largest cruise ships in the world. Vessels in this series are known for their expansive infrastructure and wide variety of onboard entertainment, making them a fitting platform for the expansion of gaming spaces.
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