Royal Caribbean has completed a five-week dry dock refit of Harmony of the Seas in Europe. The work was carried out under the Royal Amplified program, which covers the modernization of the company’s key vessels. The centerpiece of the overhaul was the expansion of Casino Royale on Deck 4 to become the largest casino across the operator’s 28-ship fleet.
Alongside the gaming and casino space, the updates extended to public areas, restaurants, bars, pool decks, and staterooms. The ship, which first entered service in 2016, has effectively been given a new lease on life.
Numbers and games of the refreshed Casino Royale
The revamped casino offers guests more than 500 slot machines and 37 live dealer tables. The roster of classic table games includes:
- blackjack,
- roulette,
- craps,
- baccarat,
- Three Card Poker.
Also noteworthy is the presence of Texas Hold’em, making the casino appealing to poker enthusiasts as well. In terms of overall gaming capacity, Casino Royale on Harmony of the Seas has surpassed every other casino in the Royal Caribbean fleet.
Deck 4 undergoes a profile shift
The casino expansion served as the central element of the entire Royal Amplified project for this vessel. The gaming floor was enlarged by repurposing former entertainment spaces on Deck 4. Three popular venues were removed or relocated during the redesign: Attic Comedy Club, Jazz on 4, and Crown Diamond Lounge.
Crown Lounge relocated to Deck 15, to an area partially converted from a former teen club. The new location provides the lounge with panoramic ocean views. The vacated spaces on the lower decks were fully absorbed into the gaming areas.
Sports bar, arcade, and tiki concept replace the “robots”
Beyond the casino, the entertainment infrastructure also underwent notable changes. A sports bar and arcade were added, equipped with numerous television screens and retro games. The former robotic bar concept, once a signature feature of the ship, gave way to a tiki-style cocktail venue.
The dining offering was expanded with two notable additions: a complimentary Mexican restaurant and a Brazilian steakhouse with tableside service. Updates also extended to other dining areas across the vessel. The pool decks received a tropical redesign built around the bar concept of The Lime & Coconut.
Nearly a hundred new staterooms carved from unused spaces
Engineers created approximately 100 additional staterooms by repurposing interior spaces throughout the ship. Among the new accommodation formats, panoramic suites positioned above the bridge stand out, offering expansive forward-facing views. The conference center, which was reportedly underutilized, was converted into additional interior staterooms.
Where the refitted ship is headed
Harmony of the Seas has already resumed sailings, with the summer season taking place in the Western Mediterranean with calls to destinations in Spain, France, and Italy. A transatlantic crossing is expected in the fall, after which the ship will begin year-round itineraries in the Caribbean and Bahamas, homeporting at Port Canaveral.
The cruise industry is doubling down on gambling
The casino expansion on Harmony of the Seas fits into a broader market trend. Cruise operators are scaling up gaming capacity amid the growing popularity of gambling in the United States, fueled by the rapid rise of sports betting.
Royal Caribbean is simultaneously expanding smoke-free gaming areas. Jazz on 4 lounges on several ships are being converted into spaces where smoking is prohibited. Guest surveys have shown that significantly more players are drawn to non-smoking zones, and the share of smokers among passengers continues to decline.
Carnival Cruise Line launched adult-only ACES (All-Casino Exclusive Sailings) with promotions and tournaments across slot machines and table games. The company also became the first cruise operator to join the American Gaming Association.
Many casino visitors on cruise ships admit that when not traveling they prefer to play online. In cruise forum surveys, passengers most frequently mention Aviator, Plinko, sweet bonanza candyland game show, and online poker. Analysts believe that experience gained through digital formats is driving demand for expanded gaming areas on board ships as well. Digital accessibility has made gambling a true mainstream pursuit.
Passengers criticize the overemphasis on gaming areas
Some travelers feel that cruise lines are dedicating too much space to gambling at the expense of other leisure areas. Online discussions reflect recurring complaints. “You can’t find a single free deck chair by the pool or even 15 centimeters of space in the water, yet they keep adding a second level for gambling,” wrote one Reddit user. Another passenger observed: “At this rate of casino expansion, I’m surprised they haven’t named a ship Casino of the Seas yet.”
What standards govern onboard casinos
Ship casinos operate under industry standards closely aligned with the requirements of the state of Nevada. Members of CLIA are required to follow practices comparable to those of the Nevada Gaming Control Board. The minimum slot payout threshold is set at 75%. Land-based casinos typically configure slot payouts in the 85–90% range, while on cruise ships the figure generally falls within the 80–85% corridor. Games must meet fairness requirements and incorporate consumer protection mechanisms.
Images courtesy of unsplash.com and pexels.com
