Wonder of the Seas, the newest member of Royal Caribbean's (RCL) Oasis class was built to sail out of China. Because of that, the newest ship in the fleet and the largest cruise ship in the world has some touches that other ships of that class don't offer.
Many of those differences are cosmetic and one big difference -- the first-of-its-kind Mason Jar southern food restaurant -- might have been meant to give the Chinese market a taste of the United States, but U.S. audiences also enjoy 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. The one big change, however, may soon be brought to its sister ships retroactively.
Wonder of the Seas has a secondary casino near the comedy club and the Diamond Longue (a private space for top-level 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 meant to be a space for high rollers, which are a bigger market for Royal Caribbean in China than in the U.S. When the ship was moved to sail out of Miami instead of China, the Golden Room was reimagined as a smoke-free casino.
It's a relatively small room that has a selection of slot machines, a few table games, and absolutely no smoking. That's different from Royal Caribbean's main Casino Royale, which has both smoking and non-smoking area (with no actual barriers between the two.)
It has been heavily rumored that Royal Caribbean planned to turn "Jazz on 4" into a smoke-free casino on all Oasis-class ships. The cruise line has not confirmed that, but an email it recently sent to some passengers on two upcoming Harmony of the Seas sailings suggests that this change could very much be in the works.
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Harmony of the Seas Construction Happening
Royal Caribbean has recently been upgrading the slot machines on many of its ships. This has been happening during sailings with the cruise line trying to minimize the impact on customers by hooking the new machines up while the casino is closed.
That's a typical challenge of doing any work on a cruise ship while passengers are onboard, It's sometimes necessary (and it's cheaper for the cruise line than canceling a sailing to get work done) and that's what's happening on Harmony of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean sent an email to Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle members that some events which are usually held in the Diamond Lounge -- a space that's next to "Jazz on 4," would be moved.
“Starting February 26th, 2023 through March 12th, 2023, we will be making some enhancements on Deck 4. During this time, we kindly ask for you to please pardon our dust. Due to the Diamond Lounge’s proximity to these efforts, we’ll be hosting our Diamond Lounge morning and evening hours in alternate locations,” the cruise line shared.
The lounge won't actually be closed, but the two events held each day there that involve food will be moved.
Royal Caribbean has not confirmed what work will be done and whether it involves "Jazz on 4." The cruise line did not immediately answer a request for comment on the potential changes.
A Royal Caribbean Casino Smoking Change Would Make Sense
Royal Caribbean allows smoking in parts of the casino and on certain outdoor decks. The cruise company has actually made the casinos on its Celebrity line smoke-free and there are calls to do that on Royal Caribbean's namesake brand.
The problem (and the reason the company has not made that change) is that anytime Royal Caribbean has tested a smoke-free casino, it makes less money).
"Every, I would say, every couple of years, we do test this and we take one or two or three ships and we ban smoking in the casino. And the result is less people go in the casino and that's the reality of it," Royal Caribbean Group President Michael Bayley explained during his annual President's Cruise.
Creating a smoke-free secondary casino would solve that problem or at least give gamblers who don't want to be exposed to any secondhand smoke a place to play.
