Royal Caribbean Is Testing a Controversial Change — and It Might Be Bad for Revenue

The cruise line has experimented with variations of the policy in the past.

By Amanda Breen edited by Jessica Thomas Jun 12, 2023
Joe Raedle | Getty Images

Cigarette use among U.S. adults has declined in recent decades, but roughly 12% of Americans say they’re smokers, per the CDC.

Although fewer public spaces accommodate the habit today, the casinos aboard some major cruise ships have been a safe bet — until recently. Royal Caribbean is testing a ban on smoking at table games on certain Freedom of the Seas sailings, TheStreet reported.

Related: Carnival Cruises Will Now Charge You a $500 Fee if You Do This

Freedom of the Seas, which sailed its first voyage in 2006 and has a capacity for nearly 5,000 guests, boasts more than a dozen restaurants, bars and lounges on board, in addition to its “Casino Royale,” per Royal Caribbean.

Except for the casino, smoking was already prohibited in all interior public spaces — including dining venues and bars — aboard Royal Caribbean cruise lines, according to the company’s site.

Royal Caribbean has already added smoke-free casinos to all of its Oasis-class ships and experimented with a smoking ban on its Celebrity cruise line, which hurt revenue, per TheStreet.

Entrepreneur has reached out for more information.

Related: Carnival Cruise Ship Becomes ‘Cruise to Nowhere’ | Entrepreneur

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd is up more than 125% year over year.

Cigarette use among U.S. adults has declined in recent decades, but roughly 12% of Americans say they’re smokers, per the CDC.

Although fewer public spaces accommodate the habit today, the casinos aboard some major cruise ships have been a safe bet — until recently. Royal Caribbean is testing a ban on smoking at table games on certain Freedom of the Seas sailings, TheStreet reported.

Related: Carnival Cruises Will Now Charge You a $500 Fee if You Do This

Freedom of the Seas, which sailed its first voyage in 2006 and has a capacity for nearly 5,000 guests, boasts more than a dozen restaurants, bars and lounges on board, in addition to its “Casino Royale,” per Royal Caribbean.

Except for the casino, smoking was already prohibited in all interior public spaces — including dining venues and bars — aboard Royal Caribbean cruise lines, according to the company’s site.

Royal Caribbean has already added smoke-free casinos to all of its Oasis-class ships and experimented with a smoking ban on its Celebrity cruise line, which hurt revenue, per TheStreet.

Entrepreneur has reached out for more information.

Related: Carnival Cruise Ship Becomes ‘Cruise to Nowhere’ | Entrepreneur

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd is up more than 125% year over year.

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Amanda Breen

Senior Features Writer at Entrepreneur
Entrepreneur Staff
Amanda Breen is a senior features writer at Entrepreneur.com. She is a graduate of Barnard College and received an MFA in writing at Columbia University, where she was a news fellow for the School of the Arts.

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