Casino - Smoking?

[BobKat406]

Heard the smoking issue is horrible in the casino. Both DH and I are non-smokers and although we put up with it, from what I have read in past reviews its pretty bad and some actually would not go due to the smokiness.

 

Any recent cruiser experiences with the casino to confirm or talk of improvement in the smoking issue?

 

I know that many use the casino for "their personal smoking lounge". I wish Royal would provide an indoor area for them that is separate from the casino so casino players can enjoy the casino as a casino and not a smoking lounge.

 

We usually spend a lot of time in the casino and if it is consistently smoke filled that may not be the case on this cruise.

 

I know RCI is making improvements on many of the issues occurring - wondering if this is one area where anything is being done.

[chechebean]

I found the "smoke" to be the worst at night, at the Forward entrance, next to the Music Hall. They have two seating arrangements just steps inside of the casino. On my cruise 12-1, there seemed to be the same group gathering in that area. One particular night they were quite loud and somewhat obnoxious. On the opposite end at the Aft entrance is where the "No-smoking" area is located. I didn't find the smoke to be a problem.

 

Have a great cruise!!

[smdubowsky]

We are on the Quantum now. The only place we encounter tobacco smoke is in the Casino but it is pretty bad. Too bad for RCCL. I usually drop a "contribution" while cruising but not on this voyage.

[Ambiverol]

The smoke in this casino is the worst I've ever experienced in a casino. No exaggeration. I have not been around smoke like this, in any venue, in the past 10 years. One could see the cloud upon approaching.

 

Full Disclosure: It was a 2 night sampler cruise, so it may have been more of a party atmosphere on this sailing. Also, there were a fair amount of Club Royale guests and a large junket group. This may have contributed.

 

Also, without exaggeration, the line was often 30-40 people deep to cash a ticket/chips. It was nuts. Hopefully things have been ironed out since November.

 

There were many non-players using the casino as a smoking lounge. I don't blame them, Royal has set up that situation.

 

It is nothing like the split smoking/non on Oasis class. That works out fine. I would think, with a new ship, they would have a state of the art ventilation system in a shared area that allows smoking. The smokiness is baffling.