Royal Caribbean opens smoke-free casino on newest cruise ship

Royal Caribbean has opened a new non-smoking casino on its latest ship Utopia of the Seas, replacing the former comedy and dance venue, The Attic.

Located across the hall from the original non-smoking casino, the new area includes slot machines, table games, and a bar, as per an article via Royal Caribbean Blog. It is the latest step in Royal Caribbean’s push to expand non-smoking casino spaces across its fleet.

The Crown Lounge, currently a dedicated space for Diamond-tier and above Crown and Anchor Society members, will be converted into a third non-smoking casino. The lounge will be relocated to Deck 16 on May 16, taking over the space previously occupied by the Teen Club, which will undergo renovations and be downsized.

Work on the Crown Lounge transformation will occur while the ship remains in operation, with the revamped casino expected to open between May 30 and June 2, the blog wrote.

Royal Caribbean’s shift toward smoke-free gambling comes in response to growing demand from health-conscious guests. While many cruise casinos have traditionally offered separate smoking and non-smoking areas, poor air circulation often rendered those designations ineffective.

The cruise line began testing non-smoking casinos aboard Wonder of the Seas, and following positive feedback, has since expanded the concept. Jazz lounges like Jazz on 4 have also been converted into casinos, and the Vintages wine bar on Freedom of the Seas also recently made the switch.

Looking ahead, Royal Caribbean plans to bring the same changes to Wonder of the Seas when it begins short weekend cruises from Miami starting September 1, 2025. The Attic and Crown Lounge aboard that ship will follow suit.

While there are no official announcements yet for other ships, similar upgrades are likely to be introduced across the Oasis Class fleet in the near future as Royal Caribbean continues to respond to guest preferences and boost revenue.