Gambling Cruise

A Gambling Cruise combines two very different experiences: traveling at sea and enjoying casino entertainment aboard a cruise ship. For passengers who like casino games, visiting an onboard casino can add something different to a vacation that already includes destinations, restaurants, shows, nightlife and days at sea.

Modern cruise ship casinos can offer a broad selection of games. Depending on the cruise line and individual vessel, passengers may find slot machines, video poker and traditional table games such as blackjack, roulette, craps and baccarat. Poker enthusiasts may also find Texas Hold’em, poker-style table games or scheduled tournaments on selected sailings. You can learn more in our guide to Poker on Cruise Ships.

The important point is that a gambling cruise is usually about much more than gambling. The casino is one entertainment option aboard a ship that may be traveling between several completely different destinations.

What Is a Gambling Cruise?

The term Gambling Cruise can have different meanings.

Historically, dedicated gambling ships sometimes took passengers offshore primarily for the purpose of casino gaming. Modern cruise vacations are generally different.

Major cruise lines operate large passenger ships where the casino forms only one part of the onboard entertainment. Passengers may spend their days visiting ports, relaxing beside the pool or exploring the ship before visiting the casino later in the evening.

This distinction is important. Someone searching for a gambling cruise today may actually be looking for a conventional cruise ship with a particularly good onboard casino rather than a vessel whose sole purpose is gambling.

What Casino Games Can You Play on a Gambling Cruise?

The selection varies considerably between ships, but a modern cruise ship casino may offer many of the same games found in land-based casinos.

These can include:

• Slot machines
• Video poker
• Blackjack
• Roulette
• Craps
• Baccarat
• Texas Hold’em
• Three Card Poker
• Ultimate Texas Hold’em
• Casino tournaments

Not every game is available on every ship or sailing. Passengers who are particularly interested in poker, baccarat or another specific game should therefore check the casino offering of their chosen vessel before booking.

Royal Caribbean Gambling Cruises

Royal Caribbean is one of the major cruise lines associated with extensive casino entertainment.

Its onboard casinos operate under the Casino Royale name and can include large selections of slot machines alongside traditional table games.

One particularly well-known example is Allure of the Seas Casino. Allure of the Seas belongs to Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class and combines Casino Royale with a huge range of other entertainment, restaurants and attractions.

Royal Caribbean also operates the Club Royale casino loyalty program. Qualifying casino activity can earn Tier Credits and Reward Points, with certain membership levels and promotions providing additional casino and cruise-related benefits.

You can find more information about these rewards in our guide to the Royal Caribbean Casino Free Cruise.

Carnival Cruise Casino

Carnival is another major name for passengers interested in combining cruising and casino entertainment.

Depending on the vessel, a Carnival Cruise Casino can offer slots and a selection of traditional table games as part of the ship’s wider nightlife and entertainment program.

As with Royal Caribbean, the casino should be considered one part of the vacation rather than the entire reason for taking the cruise.

This allows passengers to combine casino gaming with ports of call, restaurants, shows, bars, pools and other onboard attractions.

When Are Casinos Open on a Gambling Cruise?

Cruise ship casinos cannot necessarily operate whenever the ship is sailing.

Opening hours can depend on the vessel’s location, itinerary and the regulations that apply to casino operations. Casinos commonly operate while ships are at sea and may close while vessels are in certain ports or territorial waters.

Exact opening hours can therefore change during a voyage.

Passengers should check the cruise line’s app or daily onboard program for the current casino schedule rather than assuming that gaming is available 24 hours a day.

Gambling Cruise vs. Las Vegas Casino

A Gambling Cruise provides a very different experience from spending a vacation at a casino resort in Las Vegas.

In Las Vegas, the casino can be at the center of the entire trip. On a cruise, the surroundings constantly change.

One day you may wake up at sea. The following morning the ship could arrive at a Caribbean island, Mediterranean port or another destination. After returning aboard, passengers can have dinner, see a show and later spend some time in the casino.

This combination of travel and gaming is arguably the biggest attraction of a cruise ship casino.

How to Choose the Best Gambling Cruise

Casino size alone should not determine which cruise you book.

Before choosing a ship, consider:

• The casino and selection of games
• The cruise line and individual ship
• The itinerary and destinations
• Length of the voyage
• Restaurants and bars
• Shows and nightlife
• Cabin options
• Casino loyalty programs
• Minimum gambling age
• Smoking and non-smoking policies

Passengers primarily interested in casino entertainment can compare some of the best cruise ship casinos before deciding which ship fits their vacation plans.

How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble on a Cruise?

There is no single minimum casino age that applies to every cruise ship around the world.

Age requirements can vary according to the cruise line, departure port, destination and itinerary. The rules applicable to one voyage should therefore not automatically be assumed to apply to another.

Passengers should verify the current casino age requirements for their specific sailing before traveling.

Gambling Cruise Rewards and Casino Loyalty Programs

Casino loyalty programs can be another part of the cruise gaming experience.

Qualifying players may earn points or status based on eligible casino activity. Depending on the cruise line and current program, benefits can include casino-related offers, FreePlay or other rewards.

Some cruise lines may also provide cruise-related offers to qualifying casino customers.

However, a casino reward should never be considered guaranteed profit. The amount a player loses while attempting to earn a particular benefit can easily exceed the value of the reward.

For that reason, players should never increase their gambling simply to reach a loyalty level or qualify for an offer.

Casino Cruise Online – Is It the Same Thing?

A Casino Cruise online and a physical gambling cruise are two completely different things.

A real cruise ship casino is located aboard a passenger vessel. An online casino provides games through a website or mobile device and does not transport players anywhere.

The distinction is particularly important because online casinos sometimes use names, images or themes associated with cruises and ocean travel. This does not mean they are operated by Royal Caribbean, Carnival or another cruise company.

Players interested in online casino entertainment can read our Casino Cruise guide.

Online casino promotions may also include deposit bonuses, free spins or promotional codes. Our Casino Cruise Bonus Code section explains these offers separately.

Online gambling availability and regulations vary between jurisdictions. Players should check the laws applicable to their location before using an online gambling service.

Can You Win Money on a Gambling Cruise?

Yes, individual casino players can win money during a cruise. But that does not mean a gambling cruise should be viewed as a way to make money.

Casino games contain chance and, in most cases, a mathematical house advantage. Short-term results can vary considerably, meaning one passenger may finish a session ahead while another loses.

There is no reliable method that guarantees a passenger will leave a cruise ship casino with a profit.

For this reason, gambling money is better treated as part of an entertainment budget rather than as an investment.

Are Gambling Cruise Casinos Rigged?

Losing money at sea does not mean the casino is secretly manipulating its games.

Casino games already contain mathematical mechanisms that give the operator an expected advantage over time. This house advantage should not be confused with a game being “rigged.”

Random results can also create surprisingly long winning or losing streaks.

We examine this subject in considerably more detail in our guide Are Cruise Ship Casinos Rigged?.

Is a Gambling Cruise Worth It?

For travelers who already enjoy cruising and occasionally visiting casinos, a Gambling Cruise can provide an unusual combination of both interests.

What makes the experience distinctive is not simply the opportunity to play blackjack or slots. The real attraction is being able to enjoy casino entertainment while traveling between destinations.

You might spend an afternoon exploring a port, return aboard for dinner and a show and finish the evening with a few hands of blackjack or some time at the slots.

The following morning, the view outside your cabin may be completely different.

That is something even the largest land-based casino cannot offer.

Gambling Cruise – Final Thoughts

A Gambling Cruise can combine casino entertainment, travel, nightlife and sightseeing in a way that is difficult to reproduce on land.

Royal Caribbean, Carnival and other major cruise operators provide casino gaming aboard many of their vessels, but the size, game selection, opening hours and rules can differ between ships and itineraries.

For casino enthusiasts, it therefore makes sense to compare the ship as carefully as the destinations before booking.

Most importantly, gambling should remain only one part of the vacation. Set a budget before entering the casino, understand the games you choose to play and never wager more than you can afford to lose.

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