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Royal Caribbean may encourage its passengers to “come seek,” but lately, guests aren’t always finding what they’re looking for. During a recent sailing, one guest was left disappointed after discovering a beloved area on the Oasis of the Seas ship had been converted into a luxury watch shop.
Online, the change has generated mixed reviews, with some cruisers saying the area was underused while others questioned if the liner truly needed another luxury shopping experience.
Reports indicated that Oasis of the Seas is not the only vessel to experience the slow phasing out of this fan-favorite area. So here’s a closer look at the change and what frequent cruisers are saying about it.
Royal Caribbean Is Slowly Phasing Out Library Rooms
Regardless of the company, there are some standard rooms that travelers expect to see on a cruise. These rooms often include chapels, internet cafés, and of course, libraries. The library room on a ship serves as a quiet getaway and an ideal spot to read or play a game with your fellow travelers.
On Reddit, a Royal Caribbean guest details how they discovered that the library on Oasis of the Seas was no more.
"I've really enjoyed the library as a quiet space to read or play a board game on various cruises. I was really disappointed to find it was turned into another luxury watch shop,” the guest said. “It's still labeled as the free public library, and nothing indicates that it's permanently closed until you try the door.”
The guest went on to explain that the ship still had a card room that stored a modest selection of books and board games. However, they noted that this room was “very small, often completely packed, and loud.”
Lack Of Use And COVID-19 To Blame For Cruise Library Disappearance
Several reports online say that Royal Caribbean and other major cruise lines have been slowly phasing out traditional library rooms since the pandemic. The “take a book, leave a book” tradition on ships was largely abandoned during COVID-19 to help slow the spread, leaving many remaining libraries quite barren. Lack of use is also cited as a reason for cruise lines moving away from the library.
TheTravel reached out to Royal Caribbean for comment but did not receive a reply in time for publishing.
Despite the perceived lack of use, many guests feel disappointed with the change.
Cruisers Lament The Loss Of Royal Caribbean Library
Although Redditors had mixed reactions to the lack of a traditional library on board the Oasis of the Seas, many expressed disappointment. Here’s what travelers are saying:
| “The library was one of the best places on a ship. I am saddened that many of the large ships have removed them or put a few books in the game room. I like the take a book, leave a book method. I still like holding and reading a real book, not on a tablet.” |
| “Did they really need a third watch shop? Really??” |
| “Can't make money off a game room and library. They forget about the cruising experience.” |
| “I do hate how they are slowly getting rid of the library and game rooms. My wife and I like to bring smaller board/card games, and not having a great place to play at any time during the day sucks. |
| “It seems any amenity they can turn into a revenue stream, they do. Disappointing. I enjoy board games and the library as well.” |
Others were more understanding of the change, adding comments such as, “If you’re going to sit in a room to read, why not just read in your room?” and “Honestly not surprised, on most the ships I’ve been on [the library’s] been empty the entire time I’d utilize it for work. I’d replace it with something else if I were them as well.”
A handful of cruisers also suggested switching to Cunard Cruise Line, an international cruise line known for having some of the largest and most elegant libraries at sea. As for loyal Royal Caribbean guests, it may be time to start packing your own vacation books.
