Cruise ships are constantly evolving, and sometimes that means beloved venues quietly disappear to make room for something new.
That’s exactly what just happened aboard Radiance of the Seas, where Royal Caribbean recently introduced a new entertainment space — but not everyone is thrilled with the change.
During a recent drydock and maintenance period, the cruise line removed a well-known bar on the ship and replaced it with an entirely new non-smoking casino area.
The change reflects a growing trend across the Royal Caribbean fleet as the company continues expanding its casino offerings.
While the move may excite guests who enjoy gambling without cigarette smoke, it also means the loss of one of the ship’s classic social spots.
A Familiar Pub Has Disappeared From Radiance of the Seas
Passengers returning to Radiance of the Seas this week noticed something surprising when exploring the ship.
The well-known Quill & Compass Pub, which previously served as a lively gathering spot for drinks and live music, has been completely removed.
In its place now sits a brand-new non-smoking casino area.
Cruise passenger Jeremy Thomasson shared the update while sailing onboard the ship, confirming the change to other Royal Caribbean fans online.
“Onboard now and can confirm Radiance has removed the Pub and replaced it with a Non-Smoking Casino.”
Soon after, a video walkthrough of the new space appeared online, showing that the former pub area has been fully redesigned into a gaming floor.
For returning cruisers who remember the pub’s relaxed atmosphere and live entertainment, the transformation came as a surprise.
What the New Casino Area Looks Like
Although the space is brand new, early footage and passenger reports give a good idea of how the new venue is set up.
The non-smoking casino includes:
- Slot machines.
- Several table games.
- A dedicated casino bar.
- Seating areas for players.
The bar located inside the casino replaces the old pub bar that previously served drinks in the Quill & Compass venue.
Interestingly, the casino isn’t completely isolated from the main gambling area.
Instead, it connects to the existing casino through corridors while still creating a more separated environment for guests who prefer a smoke-free gaming experience.
When passengers first saw the space, some equipment was still being installed, suggesting the venue had just recently opened following the ship’s drydock work.
Why Royal Caribbean Is Creating Non-Smoking Casinos
If you’ve spent time in cruise ship casinos before, you probably know the biggest complaint many guests have: cigarette smoke.
Traditionally, cruise casinos divide the space into smoking and non-smoking sections. But because the area is still enclosed, smoke often drifts throughout the room.
Many guests compare it to the old days of airplanes, where smoking sections existed, but the smell still traveled through the cabin.
By creating separate casino rooms, cruise lines can offer gamblers a better experience if they prefer to avoid smoke completely.
Benefits of these dedicated non-smoking spaces include:
- Cleaner air and no smoke odor.
- More comfortable gaming environment.
- Better experience for non-smokers.
- Increased casino capacity onboard.
For Royal Caribbean, this approach also allows them to expand gambling areas without removing smoking options entirely.
Radiance of the Seas Is a Smaller Royal Caribbean Ship
One interesting aspect of this change is that Radiance of the Seas is not one of Royal Caribbean’s mega ships.
Compared to modern vessels like Icon of the Seas, the Radiance-class ship is much smaller.
Ship comparison
| Ship | Passenger Capacity |
|---|---|
| Radiance of the Seas | 2,143 guests |
| Icon of the Seas | 5,610 guests |
Because Radiance has less overall space, replacing an existing venue like a pub can feel like a bigger change to the onboard atmosphere.
On larger ships, new casinos are often added in unused areas or redesigned spaces.
Royal Caribbean Has Been Expanding Casinos Across Its Fleet
This change isn’t an isolated decision. Over the past few years, Royal Caribbean has been gradually increasing the amount of casino space across several ships.
The shift began when Wonder of the Seas launched in 2022.
Originally designed for the Chinese market, Wonder of the Seas was supposed to feature a casino instead of the traditional Jazz on 4 club found on other Oasis-class ships.
When the ship ended up debuting in North America instead, the cruise line decided to keep the casino concept.
The experiment apparently worked.
More Ships Have Already Followed the Same Strategy
Since the launch of Wonder of the Seas, Royal Caribbean has rolled out similar changes on other ships.
Several venues previously used for live music or lounge entertainment have been converted into non-smoking casinos.
Examples include:
Changes across the fleet
- Jazz on 4 venues removed on several Oasis-class ships.
- Vintages Wine Bar on Freedom of the Seas has been replaced with a casino.
- Some Crown Lounge loyalty areas relocated to expand casino space.
In the case of Freedom of the Seas, the change created something completely new for the cruise line — a casino located directly on the Royal Promenade.
The Next Ship Will Feature an Even Bigger Casino
Royal Caribbean is taking the casino expansion even further with an upcoming ship.
When Legend of the Seas launches later this year, it will introduce the largest casino ever built on a Royal Caribbean ship.
The ship will also be the first in the fleet to feature a two-story casino, dramatically increasing the amount of gambling space onboard.
This move clearly shows that casinos are becoming a bigger focus for cruise ship entertainment.
Why Cruise Lines Want Bigger Casinos
There are several reasons cruise companies continue expanding their casino spaces.
The biggest one is simple: revenue.
Casinos have historically been one of the most profitable areas on a cruise ship.
Even though Royal Caribbean does not publicly break down its casino earnings, the rapid expansion suggests gambling remains a strong source of income.
Several trends support this idea:
- Casino loyalty programs are growing rapidly.
- Players often receive free cruise offers through casino rewards.
- More gambling space allows more players at once.
For cruise lines, casinos create a steady stream of onboard revenue that helps support the rest of the ship’s entertainment and services.
Some Guests Love the Change — Others Miss the Old Venues
Like many changes on cruise ships, the casino expansion has received mixed reactions from passengers.
For guests who enjoy gambling but dislike smoky casinos, the new spaces are a welcome upgrade.
Positive reactions include
- A smoke-free gaming experience.
- More slot machines and tables available.
- Less crowding in the main casino.
However, the change also comes with a downside.
Replacing bars, lounges, or entertainment venues means fewer social gathering spots on the ship.
Entertainment Venues Are Sometimes the Casualties
On Radiance of the Seas, the removal of the Quill & Compass Pub means one less location for live music and relaxed evening drinks.
Cruise fans have pointed out that pub venues often hosted:
- Live singers or guitar performers.
- Casual music entertainment.
- Late-night social gatherings.
It’s not yet clear whether the pub singer previously featured on the ship will be moved to another venue or if that style of entertainment will disappear entirely.
Similar Changes Have Happened on Other Ships
Royal Caribbean has made similar adjustments before when adding casinos.
For example:
- When Jazz on 4 venues were removed, jazz performances moved to Central Park on Oasis-class ships.
- When comedy club spaces were replaced by casinos, shows were relocated to the Royal Theater.
While the performances still happen, some guests feel the atmosphere changes when entertainment moves from smaller venues to large theaters.
Comedy shows, for example, often feel more interactive in intimate spaces than on a big stage.
Casinos Are Becoming a Bigger Part of the Cruise Experience
As cruise ships continue to evolve, it’s clear that casino gaming is becoming a larger part of onboard entertainment.
With new non-smoking areas, bigger gaming floors, and even multi-story casinos on future ships, cruise lines appear confident that gambling remains a popular activity for many travelers.
For now, the change on Radiance of the Seas shows how cruise ships can transform quickly — sometimes replacing long-time venues with entirely new experiences.
Whether guests prefer the new casino or miss the classic pub atmosphere will likely depend on what they enjoy most during their cruise vacation.
