Royal Caribbean is renowned for building the world’s biggest and most advanced cruise ships. However, it wasn’t until last year that my husband and I cruised on an Oasis class ship together for the first time.

Although we’ve traveled the world, most of our sailings have been aboard Royal Caribbean’s older and smaller ships. Our very first Royal Caribbean cruise was aboard Mariner of the Seas in Southeast Asia, followed by our engagement trip on Brilliance of the Seas and honeymoon on Rhapsody of the Seas!

Since then, we’ve cruised together in Alaska, Iceland, New Zealand, Norway, the Canary Islands and the Caribbean many times. Typically, we book our cruises based on the itinerary rather than the ship itself. For many years, we never even cared about the ship at all, as the destinations have always been the highlight.

For instance, our most recent Royal Caribbean cruises have been aboard Jewel of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, and Serenade of the Seas. So, when my parents invited us to join them on a 4-night cruise aboard the brand-new Utopia of the Seas, we were eager to experience one of Royal Caribbean’s newest ships.

Not to mention, Luke and I had never cruised together on a brand-new ship before! Even more exciting was the fact that my husband, Luke, would experience an Oasis class ship for the first time. While this wasn’t my first time onboard one of the world’s largest cruise ships, this would be our first time together aboard an Oasis class ship.

Overall, Luke was impressed with the entertainment and dining options, but he hated dealing with the constant crowds. We had a wonderful family vacation, but like any trip, it wasn’t perfect. Here’s what he thought of his first Oasis class experience, and whether we will consider booking another one.

Entertainment was a highlight, which normally isn’t the case for Luke

My husband enjoys cruise entertainment, but it’s usually not his favorite aspect of a cruise. His favorite shows are typically comedy acts, and he won’t turn down a magician or variety act. Instead, Luke typically prefers relaxing in a bar or lounge after dinner, followed by an earlier bedtime.

That really aboard Utopia of the Seas, as Luke was blown away by the entertainment! In my opinion, Oasis class ships have some of the best cruise ship entertainment in the industry. I really hyped up the entertainment, and luckily, it didn’t disappoint.

Luke was especially impressed by the Aqua80Too show at the AquaTheatre. He said the diving, acrobatics, technology, and synchronized elements were unlike anything he had seen at sea. Throughout the entire cruise, he kept commenting on how talented the athletes were and how well-executed the production was.

In addition, he loved the ice skating performance on board. We have seen ice shows on Voyager Class ships before, but the YouTopia show felt elevated in both choreography and overall production quality. 

By the end of the sailing, even the late-night comedy show on the final evening turned into one of our favorite shared moments. The comedian had us laughing so hard that we were in tears!

He loved the wide selection of specialty dining options

When Luke and I took our first cruise together, I knew he would love all of the complimentary dining options. What 21-year-old college kid doesn’t love an all-you-can-eat buffet?

During our early years of cruising together, we only dined at the complimentary restaurants. We were newlyweds on a budget, so we didn’t have a lot of extra cash to splurge. Not to mention, there is already so much included in your cruise fare, so we never felt the need to spend extra.

Over the years, we’ve started to splurge on specialty dining experiences. Now, we really appreciate the elevated ambiance, attentive service, and higher-quality cuisine. We’ve never purchased a specialty dining package, but we always try two or three of the specialty restaurants during our cruises.

On Utopia of the Seas, Luke was shocked by the huge selection of dining options. During our four nights aboard, we managed to dine at Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen, and Mason Jar. Each restaurant offered a distinct and memorable experience, although Mason Jar did not quite meet our expectations.

Even still, the dining variety available on an Oasis Class ship is especially impressive. With only four nights aboard, there were still venues we did not have time to try, including Izumi Sushi, which is one of Luke’s favorites.

Compared to the older and smaller ships with only a few places to eat, it’s a completely different dining experience aboard an Oasis class ship.

However, we both found the main dining room to be underwhelming on Utopia of the Seas. This has become a common theme for us in recent years. At this point, we include specialty dining in our cruise budget, as we pretty much always splurge now. While the service is always attentive, the cuisine in the main dining room simply does not compare to specialty venues.

Embarkation day was overwhelming, which wasn’t the best first impression

They say first impressions are everything, but the crowds on embarkation day were particularly off-putting for Luke. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that you might experience crowds while cruising aboard an Oasis class ship. These are among the biggest cruise ships in the world, with Utopia of the Seas holding nearly 6,000 passengers at capacity.

However, it seemed like we were battling the crowds from the minute we arrived at Port Canaveral for embarkation. The crowds only continued as we entered the Royal Promenade after boarding and looked for a quick snack. Sorrento’s was packed with passengers lining up for pizza, and we found ourselves weaving through the busy walkway just to get through.

Once we finally escaped the Royal Promenade, we headed to another packed venue: the Windjammer buffet. Luke loves seafood, so he was especially excited to indulge in lobster during the seafood spread. Embarkation day is always one of the busiest times in the Windjammer, and adding lobster to the menu only seemed to amplify the crowds.

Finding a table proved to be the biggest challenge. Traveling with my grandma, who uses a walker, made navigating the busy restaurant even more stressful. What should have been a relaxed first lunch onboard quickly turned into a frustrating experience. We didn't return to the Windjammer after this, as we wanted to avoid the long lines here. 

At the same time, Luke and I were running around frantically trying to get our dining and entertainment reservations.  He said he hadn’t experienced anything like that on embarkation day before, and it wasn’t exactly relaxing. Unfortunately, securing all of your reservations is crucial aboard an Oasis class ship.

With so many people vying for reservations at the same time, you’ll want to ensure you have all of your plans sorted as soon as possible.  For example, we weren’t able to secure entertainment reservations before boarding, and our Diamond Plus BOGO specialty restaurant can only be redeemed onboard. This meant our first few hours of vacation were pretty chaotic.

Luke loved the thoughtful design and amenities

After sailing on many older ships together, Luke immediately noticed how modern Utopia of the Seas felt. Newer ships naturally come with updated technology and state-of-the-art amenities, but he really appreciated the thoughtful details throughout the ship. Beyond the aesthetics, Luke appreciated how intentional and practical many of the features felt.

For instance, he loved the dedicated jogging track on Utopia of the Seas that wraps around the ship. As a runner, he appreciated being able to run easily without weaving through chairs or loungers on the pool deck. Although I am not a runner, I enjoyed being able to walk around the path with my parents and soak in the ocean views.

Moreover, Luke found our interior stateroom to feel contemporary and functional with many thoughtful design elements. Although we booked the cheapest cabin on board, our stateroom was very comfortable for the four nights on board.

In particular, Luke appreciated the USB port and outlet conveniently located on the nightstand. On many older ships, the only outlets are at the vanity, which usually means relying on a portable charger at his bedside. With phones, watches, headphones, and laptops all needing regular charging, that small design upgrade makes a noticeable difference.

Finally, Luke even noticed the improved bathroom layout in our cabin. As a 6’4 cruiser, he loved having a larger walk-in shower with more space. This was certainly a welcome design improvement compared to older ships, which can often feel outdated and very cramped.

We still prefer smaller vessels, although it was a great vacation!

Despite the ship’s many impressive amenities, Luke still prefers cruising on smaller vessels. As destination-focused cruisers, we prefer visiting new regions and booking sailings to new ports of call. 

Unfortunately, Oasis class ships are limited in where they can sail because of their massive size. In addition, you won’t be able to tender ashore while cruising aboard an Oasis class vessel, further limiting the ports of call that you can visit.

If you’re someone who prioritizes unique ports and longer voyages, you won’t be sailing on Oasis class ships very often. For those wanting to experience new places, Oasis class ships never seem to check the boxes. Additionally, Royal Caribbean has been transitioning its Oasis class ships to focus on shorter, party-centric sailings in the Caribbean.

Additionally, cruising together aboard Utopia of the Seas felt completely different than our recent Royal Caribbean cruises, such as our 12-night cruise to Iceland on Jewel of the Seas. As a Radiance class vessel, Jewel of the Seas is about 60% smaller and holds only 2,191 passengers.

With fewer passengers onboard, Luke and I loved being able to see familiar faces throughout our cruise. This built a sense of community, especially on a longer voyage. Luke and I value those small interactions with both crew members and fellow guests.

This isn’t to say we didn’t enjoy the service aboard Utopia of the Seas, as it was very professional. However, the experience felt less personal, likely because of the ship’s larger passenger capacity. This can make it harder to grow those connections during your sailing.

Essentially, our cruise on Utopia of the Seas was extremely fun and memorable. We loved being able to spend time with my family, including my late grandfather who recently passed away. However, we both prefer the smaller, more intimate cruise ships, such as Celebrity’s Edge class ships.

One cruise ship truly changed the industry when it debuted, and it remains one of Royal Caribbean's best ships.

When Royal Caribbean first launched Oasis of the Seas in 2009, every cruise ship that came before it suddenly felt obsolete. The Oasis Class did not merely enlarge the scale of cruising, it redefined what a cruise ship could be. 

More than a decade later, Royal Caribbean’s leadership remains confident that the Oasis Class wasn’t just a milestone in naval engineering, but a turning point in modern leisure.

According to Jason Liberty, CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, the enduring success of the class stems from a culture of sustained reinvention. “Continuous improvement is really one of our key mantras in the company," Liberty stated. “How do we make it better tomorrow? How do we make it better ten years from now? And that’s where all the dreaming comes in."

This spirit of ambition was at the heart of the Oasis Class from the beginning. Harri Kulovaara, Executive Vice President of Maritime & Newbuilding, recalls the magnitude of the project with characteristic understatement. “When we started to dream of a ship of this size, that time was probably for us the largest leap in the design process, in the technical process, in managing something as complex as it is.”

From a technical and conceptual standpoint, Oasis was a radical departure. Rather than following the industry’s established formula, Royal Caribbean set out to design something that reoriented the very idea of vacation at sea. “When the Oasis class first debuted in the cruise industry,” said Darren Budden, Director of Product Development, “it for the first time truly made the ship the destination on a cruise vacation. The Oasis class has been copied but never replicated.”

The list of innovations introduced with Oasis is extensive: Central Park, an open-air green space inspired by Manhattan; the AquaTheater, a vast amphitheater built into the ship’s stern; the Ultimate Abyss, the tallest dry slide at sea. These were not gimmicks, but carefully calculated design choices meant to segment the ship into “neighborhoods,” each offering a distinct experience.

Kelly Gonzalez, Senior Vice President of Architectural Design, traced the origin of Central Park back to analytical design work. “We had realized that Central Park in Manhattan was proportionate to the atrium that we had on Oasis class to the size of the ship.” What could have remained a novelty was instead transformed into a peaceful, living environment in the middle of the ocean. “It’s a beautiful setting,” said Michael Bayley, President & CEO of Royal Caribbean International. “Tens of thousands of plants and trees. It’s very special.”

Equally daring was the AquaTheater. “We said there needs to be an amphitheater which is looking into the ship,” Kulovaara noted. “It wasn’t easy to put 500 tons of water into that area.” But the ambition paid off. The AquaTheater became a defining feature of the class, enabling diving performances and acrobatics that were once unthinkable on a moving vessel.

This willingness to challenge conventions remained a hallmark of the class’s evolution. Jay Schneider, Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer, emphasized how *Oasis of the Seas* became its own benchmark. “In 2009, Oasis of the Seas was a game changer for the industry,” he said. “And the beauty of that class is it’s only continued to evolve and compete essentially with itself.”

Indeed, each new Oasis-class ship has become an exercise in refinement. “Every Oasis class is an evolution of the previous one,” Bayley explained. “Everything we learn from the first to the second to the third, to the fourth, to the fifth, to the sixth, Utopia is built in and refined.”

*Utopia of the Seas*, launching as the sixth ship in the class, represents the current apex of this approach. Schneider describes it as “tradition, evolution, revolution.” The ship not only carries forward signature features like the Ultimate Abyss and AquaTheater, but also rethinks elements such as the open deck and dining venues. “It’s a food and beverage revolution and evolution, all packaged in one,” he said.

Julie Ansorge, Senior Product Owner, highlighted the revitalized Ultimate Abyss slide. “We added another section to it with rollers so that you get a little boost… It also is going to have a false exit, which is a clear acrylic section. So when you come around that bend, it looks like you’re going to shoot out into the boardwalk.”

Other enhancements address more subtle aspects of guest behavior. “One of the main guest focuses that we wanted to address was the need for more nighttime activations,” Ansorge explained. “This is going to be the world’s biggest party.”

Royal Caribbean has also been deliberate in creating ships that can evolve in service. “We build the ships from the beginning in such a way that we have capability of adding weight,” said Kulovaara. “We always try to think that there’s always room for some revolutionary thoughts.”

This built-in flexibility supports the line’s “Royal Amplified” modernization program. Daniella Hoffmann, Associate Vice President of Product Development, described the effort as an ongoing response to guest expectations. “We start the process by asking questions and really honing in on what are the things that differentiate this experience from any other.”

For all its scale and complexity, the Oasis Class has never lost sight of its central purpose. As Bayley put it: “We’ve always been focused on making sure that we’re highly relevant with our guests. And as guests change and families evolve, so does Royal Caribbean.”

The enduring relevance of Oasis Class is perhaps best summarized by Kulovaara himself. “I think Oasis was enormously successful from day one and has fulfilled all the expectations,” he reflected. 

“It broke in many ways the paradigms which are in cruising. It has not only changed Royal Caribbean—I think it has changed the entire industry.”

In an era where many cruise lines follow trends, Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class continues to chart its own course—anchored not in spectacle for its own sake, but in a disciplined, evolving vision of what the cruise experience can offer.

Ever since Oasis of the Seas began offering cruises in 2009, these massive ships have sailed weeklong cruises.  But Royal Caribbean is going to change all of that, and it's not sitting well with some cruise fans.

The introduction of Utopia of the Seas to the short cruise market when she debuted was unconventional, but since it was just one ship most people overlooked the decision as simply something different to do with that ship.

Royal Caribbean's idea was to use an impressive new ship to offer the best short cruise option in the market and gobble up the lion share of the new to cruise customers. That gets them hooked on cruising, and subsequently a "loyal to Royal" fan in the same way new moms who are given one brand of diapers tend to only use them.

However, that decision has proven very successful, as it drew many new cruisers while being quite profitable too.

With this formula a proven success, the decision was made to have more Oasis Class ships sail these short routes instead of a 7-night cruises.

That shift in strategy unleashed a torrent of feedback from cruisers that lament the idea of short cruises for their lack of port diversity, higher per-night pricing, and unattractiveness to travel to sail to these cruises.

Quickie cruises on big ships

Joining Utopia of the Seas in the short cruise market will be Wonder of the Seas later this year.

Wonder of the Seas will shift to Miami and offer 3- and 4-night cruises that visit just two places: Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas.

That puts Royal Caribbean's two newest Oasis Class ships offering weekend cruises.

Fast forward to winter 2026-2027, more of these ships make the change.

Harmony of the Seas will move to Port Canaveral to offer 4- and 5-night cruises. The five night voyages combine a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay with Cozumel, Mexico. The four nighters will visit Nassau, Bahamas and CocoCay.

Oasis of the Seas will be based from Fort Lauderdale, and just like Utopia and Wonder, will offer 3- and 4-night cruises out of Port Everglades to The Bahamas, including Royal Caribbean's private island.

Lastly, Allure of the Seas will be based in Miami in winter 2026-2027 and sail a mix of short and weeklong cruises.  It's not quite a full commitment to short cruises, but you'll find a smattering of them.

That really leaves just Symphony of the Seas as the only Oasis Class ship to offer only weeklong cruises from Galveston, Texas.

So if you're in the market for a 7-night cruise from Florida on one of Royal Caribbean's newest ships, that leaves the Icon Class.

Icon of the Seas is sailing out of Miami, and Star of the Seas will start sailing 7-night itineraries from Port Canaveral this summer. 

The third Icon-class ship, Legend of the Seas, will first sail in Europe before offering 7-night cruises out of Fort Lauderdale.

Why cruise fans aren't happy with the plan

Offering more short cruises on big ships may seem like a good play for the market, but some cruisers hate the idea.

When we shared this shift in cruise offerings on YouTube, it generated a lot of comments with many people explaining why they simply don't like it.

"If I'm on a bigger ship, I want at least 7 nights," wrote BethNeutze.

MikeK02048 posted, "For those of us that live a plane ride away from the ports, it makes no sense to book a 3-4 night cruise.  Airfare is too expensive."

shernik1 added, "Many people, myself included, cannot afford the outrageous prices of the Icon ships. I can't believe that Florida, with the most and biggest cruise ports, will have no 7 or more day cruises on Oasis ships."

"So unless Royal has a 7-9 day cruise that meets our needs, we'll be sailing with another cruise line."

For some, this change is an afront to being loyal to the cruise line. BEYONDYOURIQ wrote, "Never forget who supported you for years. Take care of those who took care of you."

"I hate this trend from RCCL. My loyalty and Crown & Anchor status will only carry you so far, Royal," is what RealBkay45 wrote.

"The shorts market is the on-ramp"

Offering short cruises on impressive ships is about bringing more new customers to the market, and that's behind this strategy shift.

In the lead up to the launch of Utopia of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International President CEO Michael Bayley spoke at a conference about the importance of these sailings.

"Please acknowledge and understand that the shorts market is the on-ramp for customers who are new to cruising. It's a way to secure new customers if they end up loving the product."

Maximizing the ports of call

One thing that will change soon is what you can do at these ports on short cruises.

Royal Caribbean is actively working to open its first beach club experience in Nassau, which directly addresses customer complaints about not liking that port.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will open in December 2025 to offer an exclusive retreat to Royal Caribbean passengers.

The club is located near where the cruise ships dock in Nassau, and will have beaches and pools, three swim-up bars, seven beach bars, and more than 40 cabanas.

It's the coup de gras for weekend Bahamas cruises, given the tremendous success of Perfect Day at CocoCay.

The hope is while the sailings are short, they offer highly rated ports to compliment award winning ships.

Royal Caribbean's move to deploy more of its ships to sail shorter 3- and 4-night itineraries has sparked heated debate among its loyal cruisers. 

Royal Caribbean released new short Caribbean cruises this week, but some cruise fans don't love a notable shift in the cruise line's strategy.

Utopia of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas will have already made this switch in 2025, but Oasis and Harmony of the Seas will join the trend when they start sailing short cruises in the fall of 2026.

"It's so sad that Royal Caribbean is ruining most of the Oasis class ships with the short cruises," said Søren Hemmingsen on Facebook, and it echoes what hundreds of other die hard Royal Caribbean fans expressed about the new releases.

The big change is in winter 2026-2027, Royal Caribbean will have all but one of its Oasis Class ships sailing short cruises in the Caribbean and they're all less than 7 nights.

The reason so many cruisers are upset is the lack of itinerary variety and high cost for a short trip.

Some long-time cruisers feel a week is necessary to be able to fully enjoy these mega ship’s amenities, entertainment, and dining experiences. With more ships being allocated to short sailings, seasoned cruisers are feeling left out. 

"I can’t seem to find it worth my time to drive 8+ hours or cost beneficial to fly for a 3 or 4 night cruise. This hurts those of us who are just far enough away that have to come in the day before," said Barry Akins.

The only Oasis Class ship that will remain offering week long cruises is Symphony of the Seas out of Galveston, Texas. It's not clear what Allure of the Seas will be doing yet.

A shift toward attracting new cruisers

Why is Royal Caribbean moving more of its ships to sail short cruises? The answer is at the heart of its business.

"Short cruises is really the onramp for new to cruise," Vicki Freed, Senior Vice President of Sales, Trade Support and Service for Royal Caribbean, explained to travel agents during a webinar yesterday.

"It's kind of the test drive, people don't have to invest a lot of time, they don't have to invest a lot of money... to see if cruising is the right experience for them."

Traditionally, older cruise ships sailed these short cruises but Royal Caribbean wanted to flip the script and attract new cruisers with the best possible ships.

The idea is offer the very best new cruise ship in the short cruise market to give new cruisers an obvious choice of which ship is best for them to try. Shorter cruises allow passengers to get a taste of the best that Royal Caribbean has to offer without committing to a weeklong cruise. 

From a business standpoint, Royal Caribbean is doubling down on what works.

The cruise line is targeting a younger demographic and those who want a quick escape without taking a full week off work. Shorter cruises often sell out faster and at higher per-night rates, making them a profitable option.

One comment on the new deployment recognized the business reality, "A very short lesson in Cruising 101—Short cruises you can turn that ship twice and flip it and make more money—that only makes sense for the cruise lines! Fresh passengers buying more drinks and gambling more. This is nothing new."

Frustration over lack of variety

The shift away from longer cruises on Oasis Class ships means there aren't many options for a traditional 7-night Caribbean cruise on an Oasis Class ship.   There are sailings on Icon Class vessels, but right now Icon Class ships command the highest average cruise fares in the fleet.

One workaround is to book a back to back sailing, where you sail the same ship twice in a row to get a week on the ship.  However, there isn't a lot difference in where your ship visits.

"I hate this!," wrote Susan Cliatt. "We have to fly and it is not worth the 3,4 or 5 days!

Royal Caribbean executives have repeatedly said the top two reasons people book a cruise ship vacation are for the destinations and the food.  

Short cruises, especially 3-night sailings, usually only go to The Bahamas.

Cruise fans complained, "This caters to those that live close to the ports."

"They are only worth it if you live near the port."

Another frustration is many travelers feel that large, feature-packed ships like those in the Oasis Class are wasted on short itineraries, where there simply isn’t enough time to experience everything onboard. 

Matt Anderson wrote, "Just don’t understand why all the Oasis Class ships are moving to short cruises. You have to take just as many days off work to go on the 4-day cruise since it’s Mon-Fri as a 7-day Sunday-Sunday cruise. Also, there is just way too much happening on these ships to only be on for 3 or 4 days."

Another person echoed this concern:

"Hmmmm can’t say I like this move. We don’t like Icon because it’s crawling with out-of-control kids and was perfectly happy going back to Oasis Class for our 7-night Eastern Caribbean."

Planning the perfect girls' trip requires careful preparation. Whether it is a land or sea vacation, a trip with the girls has to accommodate everyone's preferences.

To prevent disagreements or awkwardness, a girls' cruise should meet everyone's needs, from available activities to the food on board.

I've taken three cruises with my sister, Valentine, and we've discovered that the Oasis Class ships make for the perfect trip together.

These Royal Caribbean mega-ships blend entertainment, dining, and activities into a thrilling cruise experience that appeals to all types.

Read more: I've only sailed Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships: Will I be disappointed if I try other ships?

Oasis-Class ships feature unique adventures on giant ships that have it all, such as water slides, AquaTheater performances, dry slides, surf simulators, specialty dining, themed bars, ice skating, laser tag, and rock climbing.

I've sailed on Wonder of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, and Utopia of the Seas with Val—here's why these ships make for the best cruise.

Short cruises accommodate everyone's schedule

While some cruisers adamantly stick to sailing for 7-nights or longer, my girls' trips wouldn't be possible without shorter sailings.

Multiple Oasis-Class ships, such as Allure of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas, currently offer weekend cruises that last 3 or 4 nights.

It may seem like a shorter cruise on a mega ship is a waste of money: you'll never have enough time to experience everything onboard.

However, shorter cruises make it easier for me to travel with my young friends who have jobs or school.

Many young adults simply can't fit trips a week or longer into their schedule. Shorter cruises are also more affordable—it's easier to pay for three nights than seven!—which eases the pressure on your friendship and prevents money from getting in the middle.

I've been able to take two shorter cruises on Oasis-Class ships with my sibling. We sailed on Allure of the Seas for three nights over a weekend, and on Utopia of the Seas for a 4-night weekday cruise.

Read more: How to get the most out of a short sailing on Utopia of the Seas

These miniature sailings made it easier to take a trip together—and prevented us from going too stir-crazy!

The specialty dining is unbeatable

Food brings everyone together. When cruising with friends, specialty dining is one surefire way to spice up your cruise, promising an elegant and adventurous experience.

I've found that the specialty dining on the Oasis-Class ships is like no other.

On one vessel, you can find 15-20 specialty venues that offer excellent food and unique dining experiences. 

Oasis-Class ships feature incredible restaurants like Wonderland, a dining adventure inspired by Alice in Wonderland, and The Royal Railway, a train-based dining experience set in the Wild West.

On my cruises with Val, we dined at Izumi Hibachi, Izumi Sushi, The Mason Jar, Chops Grille, and Wonderland, and each meal was a marvelous, exciting bonding experience.

I still reminisce about some of the meals I've had on Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class, like Izumi Hibachi's fried rice, yuzu citrus at Wonderland, and Chops Grille's fatty bacon appetizer.

Oasis-Class ships attract active cruisers

One of the best aspects of cruising is getting to meet a variety of people. A cruise ship becomes a community for the length of the sailing, so it's quite possible to turn strangers into friends by the end of the cruise.

That being said, I've only ever made those exciting new friendships on Oasis-Class vessels. I left my cruises on Wonder of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, and Oasis of the Seas with genuine, new connections.

My theory is that the Oasis Class just attracts active, younger cruisers—travelers ready for an exciting vacation full of new connections.

With such a multitude of activities and entertainment onboard, these vessels draw in travelers looking to have a busy and fun time.

With the possibility of making new friends onboard, a girls' trip on board an Oasis-Class ship becomes a thrilling adventure you and your friends can look forward to. Your vacation will be enriched by the company of many other cruisers.

Endless activities to try together or solo

The multitude of activities onboard the Oasis Class vessel are stunning—and they make for a great girls' trip.

On Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class, I've tried activities I never saw myself doing before—much less on a cruise ship! These adventures include:

• escape rooms
• laser tag
• ice skating
• rock climbing
• singing karaoke
• beer pong
• silent discos
• sake-tasting

Read more: I Tried Doing Every Activity on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas. It was busy, but I'd absolutely do it again.

The best part of these ships is that they are so huge, made up of multiple themed neighborhoods. Often, many events will be going on at the same time, allowing you to choose between your favorite activities.

Another reason this makes for a good girls' trip is that you don't have to do everything your friend wants to do. Valentine and I often find ourselves splitting up when the time is right, allowing for a healthy balance of priorities.

If she feels like sleeping in while I head to the gym, it's totally possible to do that! On the other hand, if I want to try dinner at the Windjammer and Val prefers being served in the Main Dining Room, it's easy to meet up later when we've each met our own needs.

The stunning entertainment creates conversation-starters

The only thing worse than not getting a vacation is going on a boring vacation. With Royal Caribbean, the Oasis Class promises the opposite.

The onboard entertainment, from start to finish, will stun you and your travel buddies. 

Valentine and I have seen some jaw-dropping performances on the Oasis Class, and this entertainment has sealed our love of these ships.

Entertainment like live game shows, Broadway performances, AquaTheater shows, and ice skating routines have taken our breath away, and created for new and exciting conversation starters.

How do you think they train to be able to dive from such a high distance? Wasn't the costume design in All-In! so cool? 

Every element invests more excitement into a girls getaway.

It's been 15 years since Royal Caribbean introduced the megaship to the world, and they remain massively popular for good reason.

What makes these ships so successful? 

Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO, answered this question at a talk on Utopia of the Seas' preview cruise last month.

Ashely Kosciolek from The Points Guy asked, "What about the Oasis Class makes it so popular that you're still rolling out new ships 15 years later?"

"This class of ship for Royal Caribbean has been a true game changer," Bayley replied, "Its level of satisfaction for the customer is epic."

When Oasis of the Seas, the first Oasis Class ship, debuted in 2009, it was a really big deal. 

Spanning 1,186 feet long, with a capacity for 6,780 passengers, it was the largest cruise ship in the world.

The Oasis Class remained the largest cruise ships until they were dethroned by Royal Caribbean's next big project: The Icon Class.

Icon of the Seas, launched in 2024, measures a whopping 1,196 feet long and can carry 7,514 guests.

Read more: See how Royal Caribbean ships stack up by size (2024)

Neighborhoods are part of what makes these ships so successful

Royal Caribbean's dominance on huge ships has been extremely profitable for the cruise line.

The sense of breaking a record by sailing the biggest cruise ships draws in passengers, as well as the opportunity for extra onboard amenities.

Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO, explained that “Newer, larger ships can break even on cash flow at around 35% capacity, while older, smaller ships are closer to 50%."

After releasing one Icon Class ship and a new Oasis Class ship, Royal Caribbean is experiencing record profits this year. 

Neighborhoods have become Royal Caribbean's formula for creating a successful mega-ship.

According to Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO, part of the Oasis Class' success lies in its size separating into different neighborhoods.

"Ironically, the reason why it works so well is neighborhoods," he said.

"Neighborhoods have been able to pull people together into spaces that they really enjoy. And it creates a feeling of spaciousness elsewhere."

Royal Caribbean intends for its neighborhoods to offer something for everyone; a place where like-minded cruisers can congregate.

"The neighborhood concept [is about] creating spaces for family and everyone has something [they] are excited to do during the day."

The huge size of an Oasis Class ship allows it to be separated into different neighborhoods, which then assists cruisers in better navigating the vessel.

Having a cluster of neighborhoods on a cruise ship serves to make it feel even bigger, while also providing separate spaces depending on a cruiser's interests.

On Wonder of the Seas, launched in 2022, eight neighborhoods provide space for every attraction. Utopia of the Seas also has eight neighborhoods.

For those looking for active fun, the Pool and Sports Zone is located on the top decks, providing pools, waterslides, and other sports activities.

Quiet nature lovers will enjoy the open-air Central Park and its dining venues, while the Royal Promenade is an exciting, happening area, filled with shops, bars, and dining.

Read more: Royal Caribbean Oasis Class Ships by Age

Different neighborhoods allow families and groups to separate during the day, enjoy their preferences, and then come together for an evening meal and a show.

"It's the perfect family vacation because it's great to be with your family... to a degree." Bayley pointed out. "Sometimes you don't want to be with them, you know. So all day, everybody goes off and does their thing."

Royal Caribbean continued this concept into the Icon Class.

Icon of the Seas boasts eight neighborhoods, one of which focuses completely on providing a space for little kids to have fun.

Surfside neighborhood was designed specifically for younger children to enjoy, with quick bites, a colorful Playscape area, and the Splashaway Bay pool area.

"We really focused on bringing the little kids into Surfside," Bayley said.

According to him, hundreds of little kids and their parents went from running all over the ship to spending their days in Surfside neighborhood.

"And they love that space. You can't get those kids out."

Royal Caribbean is dedicated to the Oasis Class

Mr. Bayley spoke to Royal Caribbean's dedication to its Oasis Class.

He recently sailed on Oasis of the Seas for the 2024 President's Cruise.

"I hadn't been on Oasis for a number of years," he said, "And as I looked around that ship, I'm like, wow, what a great ship!"

The Oasis Class has been a game-changing, record-breaking family of ships for the cruise line.

Read more: I've only sailed Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships: Will I be disappointed if I try other ships?

Additionally, Oasis Class ships are aging very well. Royal Caribbean has invested a lot into these ships and plans to continue doing so.

"Just before the pandemic, we put almost a quarter of $1 billion into one of the Oasis class ships just to bring it up to speed."

In 2019, Oasis of the Seas underwent a Royal Amplification that added new amenities and changes.

The ship received guest favorites such as:

• Re-designed, Caribbean-style pool deck
• Lime & Coconut signature bar
• Ultimate Abyss slide (dry slide)
• The Perfect Storm water slides
• Splashaway Bay Aqua Park
• Portside BBQ specialty restaurant
• El Loco Fresh complimentary Mexican restaurant
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• Sugar Beach Candy Shop
• Spotlight Karaoke venue
• Music Hall live music venue
• Bionic Bar
• Revamped Adventure Ocean
• Mission Control: Apollo 18 escape room

"We are dedicated to the Oasis Class," Bayley said.

In the past four years, I’ve cruised on all six of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class cruise ships, and I’m ranking them from best to worst.

Oasis Class ships have turned heads ever since the first ship, Oasis of the Seas, launched in 2008. She was anything but a traditional cruise ship. For the first time ever, a Royal Caribbean ship was split into distinct neighborhoods.

Whether the family-friendly, open-air Boardwalk at the ship’s aft or two-story Royal Promenade, the Oasis Class truly redefined what a cruise ship could be.

Throughout the past sixteen years, five more Oasis Class ships have launched: Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, and Utopia of the Seas. After cruising on every Oasis Class ship, I’ve come to favor some more than others. 

All six Oasis Class vessels are more alike than different, but each ship offers varied entertainment, restaurants, and onboard activities. Other touches, such as decor or differences in layout, change from ship to ship, too. Don’t get me wrong—all of my cruise experiences were excellent—but in the end, the most subtle of differences made me favor one over the other.

Here’s my ranking of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships from best to worst.

Allure of the Seas

Following her $100M amplification, Allure of the Seas has earned the top spot on my list.

In April 2025, the vessel completed a major renovation which added new venues, activities, and entertainment to the ship. After spending four nights onboard, I was impressed by the new features and amenities.

I loved the addition of The Mason Jar, Royal Caribbean's southern-inspired bar and restaurant. The venue is also available on Wonder of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas, but I preferred the spacious layout on Allure.

Other venues, like Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade, the Pesky Parrot tiki bar, and The Lime and Coconut, were also added during her amplification.

There's a range of new activities to try, too, including the Ultimate Abyss dry slide, Splashaway Bay, laser tag, and waterslides.

If all that isn't enough, Allure's entertainment is among the best in Royal Caribbean's entire fleet. The Broadway production of Mama Mia! in the Royal Theater is exceptional, and the all-new Aqua80Too show features mind-blowing acrobatics and high-diving in the ship's AquaTheater.

Although Allure of the Seas is over a decade older than the newer Oasis Class ships, her recent amplification puts her on an even playing field with others in the class.

I thought Allure offered a great value, and her European and Caribbean itineraries are far more interesting than those found on other Oasis Class ships. I'd definitely book another cruise on the vessel.

Wonder of the Seas

The second ship on my list is Wonder of the Seas, which launched in early 2022. The ship’s layout, design features, and restaurants make Wonder one of my favorites in her class.

Wonder of the Seas was the first Oasis Class ship to have a slightly different layout from her sister ships. A Suite Neighborhood was added to the upper decks, the Windjammer buffet was expanded to decrease crowding, and the adults-only Solarium became fully enclosed for better climate control.

Related: Wonder of the Seas vs other Oasis Class ships

Everything on Wonder of the Seas felt exceptionally modern and well-designed during my week onboard. I loved listening to live country music at The Mason Jar, grabbing a drink from the tropical Lime and Coconut bar on the pool deck, and relaxing in the Solarium without breaking a sweat.

The ship is nearly identical to Royal Caribbean’s brand-new Utopia of the Seas, but it's slightly cheaper, placing it higher on my list.

Of course, not everything on the ship is perfect. I wish Wonder of the Seas featured a Broadway musical, for instance, but in general, I found the cons minimal. If given the chance to sail on an Oasis Class ship today, a cruise on Wonder of the Seas would be one of my top choices.

Utopia of the Seas

Royal Caribbean’s newest Oasis Class ship, Utopia of the Seas, aims to provide the “Biggest Weekend” at sea. The ship, which only sails 3 and 4-night itineraries, markets toward cruisers in search of a quick getaway filled with themed parties and nonstop entertainment.

Related: Utopia of the Seas: Itinerary, features, and more

From the all-new Royal Kappa Chi college-themed party to the Toga Silent Disco, the three days I spent on Utopia of the Seas were anything but boring. And even though I wouldn’t say the party vibe was entirely my vibe, participating in such activities was not a requirement.

On the whole, the ship’s atmosphere did not feel drastically different to that of other Oasis Class ships. If you didn’t attend the evening parties, sailing on the ship mostly felt like cruising on any other ship in the class.

The layout and amenities were nearly identical to Wonder of the Seas, with a Suite Neighborhood and colorful pool deck. I appreciated the addition of a few venues not found on any other Oasis Class ship, including the Royal Railway immersive train car restaurant.

Newer is usually better when it comes to cruise ships, but the sticker price of the shiny new vessel is steep. I can’t justify paying the same price for a 3-night cruise that I could pay for a 7-night cruise on a slightly older Oasis Class ship.

There’s no question that sailing on Utopia of the Seas is fun and that she provides the best-of-the-best Oasis Class features, but I’d still rather book a longer cruise itinerary.

Oasis of the Seas

Among my favorite Oasis Class ships is Oasis of the Seas. Of all of Royal Caribbean's ships, the first Oasis Class ship was perhaps the most influential. While we might now view a park on a cruise ship with normalcy, this certainly wasn’t the case in 2008!

Over the years, as expected, Oasis of the Seas began to show her age. In 2019, she underwent a $165 million amplification, which added waterslides, new restaurants, and a reimagined pool deck.

Related: Oasis of the Seas ship guide: Cabins, itineraries, what to expect

I sailed on Oasis of the Seas after her amplification, and I loved every minute of my experience onboard. I tried out the escape room, rode the Ultimate Abyss dry slide, and sipped on fruity cocktails on the Caribbean-inspired pool deck.

During my cruise, I particularly enjoyed the spacious outdoor sun deck in the Solarium along with Aqua80, the ship’s high-energy AquaTheater show. I also splurged on a pass to the spa’s thermal suite, which surely helped me enjoy my cruise even more.

In short, I didn’t find much at all to complain about on Oasis of the Seas. I prefer the more updated layout of Wonder and Utopia of the Seas, but the amplification of Oasis of the Seas helped the ship feel just as contemporary as newer ships in the class.

Symphony of the Seas

Next on my ranking is Symphony of the Seas, the fourth Oasis Class ship that launched in 2018. After spending a week onboard the ship, I found no major issues with the vessel, and my Western Caribbean vacation was just about perfect.

Related: Top 10 Symphony of the Seas hidden secrets

All things considered, Symphony of the Seas could easily be in my top three favorite Oasis Class ships. I found the ship impeccably clean, and I appreciated the design features throughout, especially the Solarium's Big Wonder art installation that lights up at night.

Additionally, my favorite Italian restaurant on Royal Caribbean, Jamie’s Italian, is found onboard, and I loved watching the ship’s Broadway production of Hairspray.

So why the lower ranking? Ultimately, I prefer the enhanced layout and offerings of Wonder and Utopia, along with the Caribbean pool vibe you can also find on Oasis and Allure of the Seas.

I wouldn’t purposely avoid Symphony of the Seas over the four aforementioned ships, but given the chance, it would probably be my fifth choice for an Oasis Class cruise vacation.

Harmony of the Seas

As if the Oasis Class ships couldn’t be game-changing enough, the launch of Harmony of the Seas in 2016 brought an even bigger wow factor to the Oasis Class.

Compared to the two Oasis Class ships built before her—Oasis and Allure—Harmony of the Seas debuted with upgraded activities. She had the first-ever waterslides on an Oasis Class ship along with the Ultimate Abyss dry slide and an escape room.

Related: Harmony of the Seas cruise ship review

In a way, Harmony paved the way for the next three Oasis Class ships, which all share these features, and also inspired the amenities added during Oasis of the Seas’ and Allure of the Seas' amplifications.

Despite being a cutting-edge ship at the time, Harmony of the Seas ranks last on my list. Truthfully, though, she is so similar to Symphony of the Seas that I had to nitpick in order to rank her lower on the list.

Simply put, I prefer Hairspray over Harmony’s Broadway production of Grease, and I would prefer if the ship had a pool in the Solarium as opposed to just jacuzzis.

Obviously, none of these differences are deal breakers. I would never hesitate to sail on the ship again, but I would probably pick the other ships first.

Cruise ships are engineering marvels, and they can even perform a little-known trick to fit under bridges.

Royal Caribbean recently began offering summer cruises from the New York City area on Symphony of the Seas.  Symphony is an Oasis Class ship, making it one of the biggest cruise ships in the world.

Just like sister ship Oasis of the Seas, both have retractable funnels that allow it to pass under shorter bridges.

Symphony of the Seas is indeed massive, coming in at 1,188 feet long, and encompassing 18 decks in height.

Only recently have the giant Oasis Class ships began sailing from the New York area, and a lot of people assumed it wasn't possible because of the Verrazzano Narrows bridge, which blocks access to New York harbor.

The Verrazzano bridge is 228 feet above mean high water at its midpoint, whereas Symphony of the Seas is 238 feet high.

Captain Rob Hempstead spoke to guests on a recently Symphony of the Seas sailing that the ship's funnels do retract and can do so as needed on the Oasis Class ships.

Bridges are common around major ports, and some are just tall enough for cruise ships to fit underneath them.

Captain Rob also confirmed that the funnels are still able to retract, even if a ship has been outfitted with scrubbers on them.  Scrubbers act a lot like a catalytic converter in the sense they filter out a lot of the ship's emissions from making it into the air.

The funnels telescope down to give the ship some the few extra inches it needs to fit under the bridge.

According to Captain Rob, all the Oasis Class ships are equipped with this functionality.

There's a second part to this trick, because the ship can get lower in the water by speeding up. By going faster, they squat lower into the water.

When you increase the speed in relatively confined waters, the ship has a suction effect from the bottom, and that actually makes the ship go a bit deeper into the water.

More ships can retract their funnels

It's not just the Oasis Class ships that can shrink down when necessary.

Royal Caribbean's Icon and Quantum class ships all have retractable funnels.

In fact, the brand new Icon of the Seas had to do the same thing when it departed its shipyard to begin operations.

In late November 2023, the 1,198-foot-long, 250,800 gross-ton vessel had to get from Finland to Spain, but Denmark's 11-mile Great Belt Bridge was in the way.

The cruise ship had to "lower and secure" the Icon of the Seas' funnels, allowing it to clear the Great Belt Bridge with only a few feet to spare. 

Prior to Icon, Allure of the Seas was the last cruise ship to pass underneath the Great Belt Bridge.  The second Oasis Class ship did it in October 2010 and passed with just 20 inches of clearance.

There's simply nothing within the cruise industry that compares to the scale and pizzazz of Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships.

Since Oasis of the Seas launched in 2009, these large ships have revolutionized what you can experience on a cruise.

Not only are these ships massive, but they’re also intentionally designed with a large variety of activities, entertainment, and dining.

The Oasis class was the first to introduce the concept of neighborhoods, distinct areas that offer different amenities, separating crowds and making it harder to get lost.

Not only that, but Oasis Class ships also feature amenities like laser tag, zip lines, ice skating rinks, AquaTheaters, Boardwalks with carousels, the Perfect Storm water slide, the Ultimate Abyss dry slide, and an entire nature-filled neighborhood modeled after Central Park.

However, they aren’t all the same. 

With each new rendition, Royal Caribbean seeks to improve and revitalize its ships.

In order of ships oldest to newest, here are all of the Oasis Class ships and what makes them unique.

Oasis of the Seas

• Inaugural sailing: December 2009
• Maximum passenger capacity: 6,780
• Gross tonnage: 226,838

Royal Caribbean launched Oasis of the Seas in 2009, starting the Oasis Class off with a bang.

At the time of her launch, Oasis of the Seas was the biggest cruise ship in the world, featuring more amenities and activities than ever before.

She broke ground with seven distinct neighborhoods, becoming a destination in her own right.

In addition, she was amplified in 2019, adding new dining venues and bars, updating the pool deck to a Caribbean resort style, and revamping the kid’s programs and other activities.

Royal Caribbean invested $165 million in the amplification, ensuring that Oasis still feels fresh and luxurious even at 15 years old.

The first Oasis-Class ship mainly sails from Miami and Cape Liberty, offering Caribbean cruises.

In the summer of 2024, she will sail to the Mediterranean and begin 7-night Western Mediterranean cruises.

Read more: I've only sailed Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships: Will I be disappointed if I try other ships?

Allure of the Seas 

• Inaugural sailing: December 2010
• Maximum passenger capacity: 6,780
• Gross tonnage: 225,282

Royal Caribbean didn’t hesitate to continue the popularity of its Oasis Class.

Allure of the Seas, the second Oasis-Class ship, was launched in 2010, just one year after her predecessor.

Similar to Oasis, Royal Caribbean updated Allure with features found on newer ships.

In 2025, Allure underwent a $100 million Royal Amplification to add new waterslides, a revamped pool deck, the Ultimate Abyss dry slide, new restaurants and more.

These changes greatly enhance the appeal with families to choose Allure.  

In 2025, Allure of the Seas is splitting her time between summer in Europe before heading back to Florida to offer Caribbean cruises in the winter.

The appeal of going on Allure of the Seas is you get updated features, but will probably pay less than the newer ships in the class.

Harmony of the Seas

• Inaugural sailing: May 2016
• Maximum passenger capacity: 6,687
• Gross tonnage: 226,963

Harmony of the Seas is one of Royal Caribbean’s most popular and well-known cruise ships.

She is the 3rd ship in the Oasis Class but ushered in new expectations with a set of enhancements to the Oasis-Class experience.

Harmony was the largest cruise ship in the world when she was launched in 2016, and was later revitalized in 2021.

She has the updated Oasis-class features like the Ultimate Abyss slide, three multi-story water slides, and an escape room.

Additional activities make for an adrenaline-packed cruise experience: an 82-foot zip line, two rock climbing walls, a mini golf course, a full-sized basketball court, an ice skating rink, and two FlowRider surf simulators.

The 3rd Oasis-class ship currently offers 7-night Western Caribbean cruises out of Galveston, Texas.

Symphony of the Seas

• Inaugural sailing: April 2018
• Maximum passenger capacity: 6,680
• Gross tonnage: 228,081

When she launched as the fourth Oasis-Class ship, Symphony of the Seas replaced Harmony of the Seas as an even larger cruise ship.

Not all ships within the same class are the same, and Symphony does a great job of proving how Royal Caribbean tries to improve each cruise ship.

For example, she was the first Royal Caribbean ship to have Hooked Seafood, an extra-cost restaurant with fresh New England seafood cuisine.

Symphony is one of Royal Caribbean’s most action-packed ships, perfect for guests who love a variety of different activities.

She was recently upgraded in 2023 and currently offers summer cruises from Cape Liberty, New York, sailing to Port Canaveral, Florida, Perfect Day at Cococay, and Nassau, Bahamas over 7-night cruises.

Wonder of the Seas

• Inaugural sailing: March 2022
• Maximum passenger capacity: 6,988
• Gross tonnage: 236,857

Much like her sister ships, Wonder of the Seas was the biggest cruise ship in the world at her launch.

In fact, she was only recently de-throned in 2024 by Icon of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean continued to improve and change the Oasis Class with Wonder’s launch, adding unique features like the Mason Jar Southern restaurant, Cantina Fresca bar, and Vue bar.

Instead of the usual seven neighborhoods, she has an eighth addition: a Suites-only neighborhood at the ship's top.

The opportunities are endless. 

Wonder of the Seas also has countless activities and a new underwater-themed playground called the Wonder Playscape.

This massive vessel sails 7-night Caribbean itineraries (both Eastern and Western) out of Port Canaveral, Florida, with stops at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Utopia of the Seas

• Inaugural sailing: July 2024
• Maximum passenger capacity: 5,668
• Gross tonnage: 236,860

Royal Caribbean isn’t done releasing Oasis-Class ships. 

Utopia of the Seas is the newest Oasis Class ship and it's proof Royal Caribbean is still dreaming up new ways to make these ships even more impressive.

The ship operates on a hybrid model, leveraging Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), the cleanest fossil fuel to power ships today.

Use of LNG can reduce carbon emissions by 30%, sulfur emissions by 100%, and nitrogen oxide emissions by 85%.

Utopia of the Seas is different in that it sails 3 and 4-night cruises only.   from Port Canaveral, Florida, to Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas.

While it's quite similar to other Oasis Class ships, there's more opportunities to party. Royal Caribbean wanted this ship to be the ultimate weekend party, and they expanded its entertainment offerings on Utopia.

Unnamed (expected in 2028)

An order has been placed for a seventh Oasis Class ship, set to be launched in 2028.

Little details have been released, and the public does not yet know the name of the ship.

But Royal Caribbean has found a massive amount of success with its Oasis Class. 

The ships have become a new standard in the cruise industry, a paragon of size and amenities.

Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO said that, “From the moment [the first Oasis Class ship] sailed, it has been an absolute huge success.”

“These ships deliver from every dimension. And the most important dimension is customer satisfaction.”

He says that the breadth and depth of these ships, as well as the unique neighborhoods, are partially responsible for this huge success.

Because there’s something for every individual, families can experience fun activities separately, and then come together in the evening for dinner or other events.

families can experience unique activities, there’s something for every individual 

“It really is a winning formula.”

The next time you sail on a Royal Caribbean Oasis Class cruise ship, there's likely one change you may notice on deck 4.

Since the start of the year, Royal Caribbean has quietly begun converting over its Jazz on 4 venues into a non-smoking casino room.

Jazz on 4 was a dedicated room for jazz music, where a band would perform most nights of the cruise. During the day time, Jazz on 4 would mostly remain unused, but it was sometimes used for private events as well.

There's been no formal announcement from the cruise line, but cruise fans were alerted to the change when the jazz club was closed on recent sailings.

On Oasis of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas, Jazz on 4 has already been converted over to a casino room similar to the Golden Room first offered on Wonder of the Seas.

In the Royal Caribbean Club Royale Facebook group, Ed Thomas posted photos of the new space that opened on Oasis of the Seas this week.

He counted 40 slot machines, a blackjack table and a three-card poker table.

Over on Harmony of the Seas, the changeover occurred earlier this month. Johnny Travalor shared photos of the new space.

It's not clear yet if the change has or will happen on Allure or Symphony of the Seas, although Symphony of the Seas is in dry dock in Cadiz, Spain currently and the work could be occurring in conjunction with that effort.

When Wonder of the Seas launched in 2022, Royal Caribbean opted not to include Jazz on 4. Instead, it had The Golden Room, which is a non-smoking casino annex.  It was speculated this decision was based on the fact that Wonder of the Seas was originally intended for the Asian cruise market, where gambling is more popular than in North America and Europe.

When Royal Caribbean changed plans to keep Wonder of the Seas in the United States, they decided to keep the VIP room.

Cruise line executives at the launch of Wonder of the Seas admitted they weren't sure whether or not the concept will be a hit with Americans, but it seemed worth a try.

Non-smoking option

One big change guests may notice about this new spot is the lack of smoke.

The room is designated non-smoking, which is a big deal for Royal Caribbean. The cruise line has historically allowed smoking in the main casino.

The debate over allowing smoking in the casino has been contentious over the years, with many cruise ship passengers voicing their opinions on the matter and it's left Royal Caribbean in the middle.

At a question and answer session in June 2022, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley talked about the issue of allowing smoking. He 

admitted, "smoking in the casinos is a bit of a conundrum."

"The dilemma is that there are many people who do want to smoke in the casino. I know that's not a popular response, but it's it's the truth."

"I'm not judging anyone or anything, but there's a large group of people who do want to smoke in the casino."

He explained, "Every, I would say every couple of years, we do test this and we take one or two or three ships we ban smoking in the casino. And the result is less people go in the casino and that that's the reality of it."

Not the end of jazz on Royal Caribbean

Jazz music lovers should take solace in the fact the end of the Jazz on 4 venue does not correlate to an end to jazz music onboard Oasis Class ships.

Starting with Wonder of the Seas, the jazz performances were moved from Jazz on 4 to Central Park. On some nights, the jazz band also performs in Music Hall.

There are evening performances near Park Cafe, similar to the sets that would have occurred in the former venue.

A new jazz club on Icon

If their new ship is any indication, Royal Caribbean isn't done with jazz music quite yet.

One of the new nightlife spots recently announced for Icon of the Seas is Lou's Jazz 'n Blues, which will be located in Central Park.

Royal Caribbean thinks this venue will be the perfect place to enjoy live jazz performances at a table, or while strolling in the park.