Cruise Passengers Voice Complaints About Expanding Casinos, Dwindling Decks, Pools
Posted on: October 8, 2025, 12:37h.
Last updated on: October 8, 2025, 12:52h.
- Legend of the Seas will feature the first two-story casino in Royal Caribbean history
- The vessel is set to sail in July 2026
Royal Caribbean has unveiled design specifics of its next ship, Legend of the Seas. Not everyone is pleased.
Among the more than $2 billion ship’s many amenities and attractions are the Royal Railway, a five-course dining journey in a full-size railroad car. An immersive experience through Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory will be another popular draw.
What some frequent cruise travelers aren’t overly excited about is the vessel’s large casino area. The first two-story casino on a Royal Caribbean ship, some say the Casino Royale space, which includes smoking and nonsmoking sections, is too large.
Can’t find a single empty pool deck chair or more than 6″ of space in a pool after 8:45 am, but they can add a second level for gambling,” read one comment on a Royal Caribbean Reddit.
“Cool, an ever bigger smoke-filled area to avoid,” read another.
The Legend of the Seas’ Casino Royale is expected to have several hundred slot machines and 40 live-dealer table games.
Casino of the Seas?
Casino.org has been reporting of late of the US cruise line industry reembracing onboard casinos.
In May, Carnival ran a series of adult-only, gambling-focused voyages. The company said the special cruises were in response to dry dock scheduling changes.
The promotions, dubbed ACES (All-Casino Exclusive Sailings), provided passengers with free play and other promotions centered around the casino.
In April, Royal Caribbean announced it was swapping out more of its jazz and comedy clubs for smoke-free casinos, fully separated areas where gamblers can play without being exposed to secondhand smoke.
The way [cruise lines] are expanding casinos on many of the ships, I’m surprised they haven’t named a ship Casino of the Seas,” read another Reddit comment.
Cruise companies don’t disclose how much their casinos make from gamblers. The gaming revenue is grouped into “onboard revenue,” or income from the sale of goods and/or services not included in passenger ticket prices. The group includes, along with casino operations, revenue from cancellation fees, vacation insurance sales, third-party concessionaires, and food and beverage upcharges.
Cruises Maintain Family Focus
The casino spaces aren’t accounting for much more overall deck space, casino executives say. The expanded gaming facilities are instead to allow the floating cities to rival any land-based destination, including Las Vegas.
We feel like we’ve started this transition from being a traditional cruise vacation to being a world-class multigenerational family option that stands shoulder to shoulder with Orlando and Las Vegas and any land-based destination that you could mention,” Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean Group CEO, said during the company’s earnings call in February.
This week’s release on Legend of the Seas added that the boat provides “next-level family experiences.”
With Legend of the Seas, we are bringing to life our most legendary vacation yet as we continue to push the boundaries with more of what guests know and love,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. “Those looking to get the most out of their vacation can have it all with Legend’s combination of adventure-packed experiences and incredible destinations in Europe and the Caribbean.”
Legend of the Seas is expected to set sail in July 2026.
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