cruise ship casino tips

Cruise ship casinos: Everything you need to know about gambling at sea

Cruise ship casino gambling is a big deal to some cruisers. You know how you often hear people on a cruise ship planning their day around the entertainment, tours and mealtimes? Last night, I eavesdropped on a conversation where a group of six people was planning their entire next day around time in the ship's casino.

For other cruisers, the casino is more of an onboard curiosity than anything else. What are all those table games? Do people actually win money — or free cruises — playing in cruise ship casinos?

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If you're curious, I've compiled answers to the most common questions people ask about cruise ship casinos. Some of the answers may surprise you.

Do all cruise ships have casinos?

Most large, mainstream cruise ships have casinos, including the ships of Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line (other than Pride of America), Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises and Virgin Voyages.

Specialty cruise lines like Disney Cruise Line, Paul Gauguin and most expedition cruise ships do not have casinos. Premium cruise lines Oceania Cruises and Cunard have casinos, while Viking, Azamara and Windstar Cruises do not. (Windstar and Azamara actually removed casinos from their ships and repurposed the space.)

Among the luxury cruise lines, Silversea and Seabourn have casinos on their non-expedition ships; Regent Seven Seas has casinos on all its ships. Smaller luxury ships like those belonging to Ponant, Ritz-Carlton, Scenic and Emerald do not have casinos. River cruise lines do not have casinos on board, even on U.S. rivers where "riverboat" gambling is reserved for casino boats, not river cruise ships.

Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line

Are cruise casinos open in port?

With a few exceptions, cruise casinos are not open while ships are in port. They are generally limited to operating while the ship is in international waters. This is why Norwegian's Pride of America doesn't have a casino. Since the ship cruises exclusively in Hawaii, it never leaves U.S. waters.

Cruisers are also often surprised to learn that the casino is closed on some nights during Alaska cruises . Cruises that sail from Victoria, British Columbia, to Seattle on the final night are a good example. The ship goes straight from Canadian waters to U.S. waters without ever reaching international open waters, so the casino closes the night before arrival in Victoria and does not reopen during the cruise.

Ports that currently allow the cruise lines to operate their casinos while the ship is in port include Bermuda and Malta, which require cruise lines to apply for a gaming license. Bermuda has allowed casino operations for licensed ships between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. since 2013. It's an ideal situation as Bermuda has no land-based casinos, and many cruise ships overnight in port on Bermuda cruises. Malta, which does have land-based casinos, allows ships that have been approved for licenses to open their casinos between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Which casino games are on cruise ships?

Gaming in cruise ship casinos usually includes a mix of slot machines and table games, such as three-card poker, Caribbean stud poker, craps, blackjack and roulette. Regionally popular table games like Texas Hold 'em and pai gow may also be available on some sailings.

Can you win money in a cruise ship casino?

Most cruise ship casino games operate under the same rules and payout percentages you would find in a land-based casino; therefore, the answer is yes, you can win money in a cruise ship casino.

Social media posts and casino announcements would indicate that at least a small handful of people win four- and even occasionally five-figure slot machine payouts on a regular basis. But just as in a land-based casino, it's far easier to lose your stake than it is to win that kind of money.

How many casino points do you need to get a free cruise?

As at land-based casinos, each cruise line offering gambling on board sets its own criteria for earning perks through the line's casino loyalty program or players club. Points are generally tied to the time played and the amount of money you gamble, including the money you win and recirculate.

Much like an airline loyalty program, casino points usually accumulate over a year, earning you better perks as you work toward increasingly higher status levels. Annual free or discounted cruises are one of those perks, often beginning with complimentary (aka comped) inside cabins at relatively low status levels.

Many casinos also let you match casino status from land-based casinos (or even other cruise lines), giving you a leg up. For example, I haven't cruised with Carnival in a while, and I've never played in the line's onboard casinos, but I signed up for the Carnival players club via its Fun Match program. When I registered, I uploaded an offer from a competing cruise line and a players club card from MGM. Now when I log in to Carnival's website, I am shown casino offers that include free and discounted cruises.

Related: How to earn free cruises and perks with casino loyalty programs on land and at sea

Some cruise lines also issue instant awards for the number of points earned (i.e., money spent) on an individual cruise, regardless of status. That would be like an airline awarding free future flights to passengers who spent the most money on their flights, no matter their loyalty status.

Most mainstream cruise lines use comped cruises to fill cabins on dates they anticipate having a surplus of vacancies. These extra offers often appear random, but are generally targeted for marketing purposes rather than as rewards for high amounts of play. New players may receive these comps after low levels of play because cruise lines are always interested in attracting new casino players.

All of that adds up to the possibility of receiving a free cruise for a small number of points earned for cruising, as well as guaranteed free cruises as your points rise to the levels of play set out in the cruise lines' casino loyalty programs.

What is the best casino game to play on a cruise ship?

The best casino game to play on a cruise ship is the one that is most entertaining for you. Ultimately, you play to have fun, right?

The games that require a combination of skill and luck are the ones where the odds of winning are in your favor. For example, the overall odds on blackjack favor the casino by only 1%, while the casino has a 25% edge overall when it comes to slot machines.

Those odds mean the cruise lines operating casinos will favor slot machine players over card players, both in terms of the number of games provided and the loyalty perks awarded.

In summary, for winning money, the best games are skill games. For earning loyalty perks like free cruises, slot machines are the best choice.

Are drinks free in the casino on cruise ships?

Historically, drinks have not been free to cruise ship casino gamblers the way they usually are in land-based casinos. There are exceptions, however.

Free drinks in the casino are a perk of casino loyalty on Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Princess, Holland America and Norwegian Cruise Line. Reach the required level, and you'll earn free drinks from the casino bar, usually for a full status year. Carnival, Princess and Virgin Voyages also often throw in free drinks (either in the casino or throughout the ship) for individual comped cruises. Everyone actively gambling in the casino gets free well drinks on Celebrity cruises.

In addition, drinks are free in the casinos of luxury cruise lines like Silversea, Seabourn and Regent Seven Seas because all onboard drinks are included in the cruise fare. On the big-ship lines, anyone who purchases a drinks package or cruises on a fare that includes drinks will also be drinking "free" in the casino.

Are cruise ship casinos regulated?

Cruise ship casinos are regulated in two ways. They typically adhere to the laws of the ship's country of registry. But because gambling normally only takes place while the ship is in international waters, cruise lines that sail from U.S. ports also adhere to the rules set out by the Cruise Lines International Association. Those rules state that all equipment purchased and installed on the vessels of member cruise lines will meet the regulatory standards of the Nevada Gaming Control Board or other licensed jurisdiction for payback and internal software.

Additionally, house rules must be made available in every casino. Each member cruise line is to post at every gaming table minimum and maximum betting limits for each game, and only adults are allowed to play the slots or the tables.

What's the age minimum to gamble in a cruise ship casino?

The minimum age for gambling in a cruise ship casino is 18 in most cases, but there are exceptions. MSC Cruises has a minimum gambling age of 21 on any cruise with a U.S. port; otherwise, the age is 18. Some cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean and Celebrity, raise the minimum age to 21 on Alaska sailings.

Related: The 6 best cruise lines for young adults

Do ships run casino tournaments?

Cruise ship casinos on mainstream cruise lines often host tournaments on board featuring various casino games. The list includes slot tournaments, as well as card game tournaments for blackjack and Texas Hold 'em.

Some tournaments are invitational, offered to casino loyalty members of a certain level only. These are often held on cruises hosted specifically for players who have reached that level. For instance, Royal Caribbean holds Signature cruises designed to pamper and entertain these top-level players.

Can you smoke in the casino?

Casinos are often seen as the last bastion of cruise ship smoking freedom (beyond small, designated areas on deck). But the number of ships that offer nonsmoking casinos is steadily growing.

Celebrity Cruises does not allow smoking in its ships' casinos, and the relatively small casinos on luxury ships are generally nonsmoking, as well.

Several lines have hybrid options. For example, some Carnival ships have separate smoking and nonsmoking casinos. Norwegian has separate smoking rooms on some ships; however, cigarette smoking and e-cigarette use are allowed in casinos on ships that don't have separate smoking rooms. Princess does not allow smoking except at designated slot machines, and Holland America also has designated smoking areas in the casino.

Related: Is smoking allowed on cruise ships? A line-by-line guide

Do cruise ship casinos take cash?

Cruise ship casinos accept cash at both slot machines and table games. As an example, you can sit down at a slot machine and feed in a $20 bill, which is then converted into "credits" on the machine's screen. The value of the credit depends on the denomination of the machine. Alternatively, you might walk up to a roulette table and lay down $20 and exchange that for chips.

The exchange of cash at machines and tables is a one-way deal, even when you win. Slot machines and dealers in cruise ship casinos don't dispense cash. When you finish playing, you may be issued a paper credit slip to take to the cashier's cage for cash, or you may have your winnings loaded directly onto your onboard account on some cruise lines. At the tables, you will take chips to the cashier to exchange back into cash.

If you don't travel with cash, you can find ATMs in the casino or at guest services. Alternatives to cash in cruise ship casinos are paper credit slips, which can be played as cash at either machines or tables, onboard credit or casino free play loaded on your stateroom account, or lines of credit arranged with the casino.

You can also charge gambling money directly to your onboard account like you would charge a drink at a bar or anything else on board. Fees for gambling charges vary among cruise lines, but in most instances, table games charge a service fee, and slot machines do not.

For example, my husband recently requested money from his onboard account at a blackjack table and was charged a 5% surcharge. The ship we were on was not set up to charge onboard accounts directly from the slot machines (sometimes they are), so I had to go to the cashier for a credit slip to play. I was not charged a surcharge, although if I had asked for cash, I would have been. Both of our charges were added to our final onboard bill.

Because there is no fee added to money for slot play, onboard casinos will usually put rules in place about how quickly you can cash out of the machine. The rules are designed to keep cruisers from using slot machines as ATMs to get either cash for the table games or to cash out onboard credit they've been given from the cruise line or their travel agent.

Bottom line

If you like to gamble, cruise ship casinos provide a fun way to spend a sea day or evening on the ship. You can take lessons to learn the games you don't know how to play and even participate in tournaments.

Besides the fun of playing on board, many cruise lines have players clubs that offer onboard perks and even free cruises. And since the odds of winning are about the same as in a U.S. land-based casino, with similar regulations in place, cruise ship casinos are a safe bet for fun and entertainment — though we always encourage you to play responsibly.

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Could you envision a more enticing vacation than a luxurious cruise? The prospect is undeniably captivating! A cruise vessel offers a plethora of enjoyment opportunities, with each ship brimming with diverse entertainment options, including games of chance. 

All the skepticism fades away when you get the chance to have something more than fun. A cruise cash casino is where people win real cash and other nice bonuses! How to gamble on cruise ship casinos, and what makes it so special? Let’s find out! 

Cruise Casino Entertainment 

Gambling on cruise ships isn’t something new. It seems that such a tradition has existed since the first cruise ship started its journey. You might challenge the argument by pointing out that the Cruise Ship Competitiveness Act was only signed into law in 1991.

Indeed, the document meant the official presence of gambling facilities. But who said that guys didn’t just play poker or other table games? It was possible before the Act and the Act itself means that an entertainment activity gained huge popularity. So now, almost every major cruise line offers its clients to play games for real money. What’s more, some cruise ships even host gambling tournaments. But that’s for professionals. What to expect when you go on your first cruise? 

Are Cruise Casinos Beginners Friendly?

Gambling rules don’t change. However, some people believe that casinos on fancy ships have enormous entry requirements. While it might be relevant to luxurious tours , the majority of lines with casinos don’t differ from the average facilities you would find in your city or town. The entry requirements are low, making them affordable to all participants. 

Besides, you have the opportunity to play cruise ship slot machines. Their minimum bets are very low. You’ll be able to benefit from your favorite slots anytime you wish.

Casino Games Available on a Cruise

If you’re fond of some particular games, we don’t think an average cruise casino will limit your gambling opportunities. You win money at a casino by different means. The range of games is a rich mix. Such a mix is common for the majority of such facilities. Ones located on cruise sailings aren’t exceptions. Do not hesitate and try to play:

Increasing the Winning Odds

When you play in cruise casinos, you get much more than just fun. You place real money at risk, so the reward is equal. Similar to any other facility, the chance of winning here depends on luck. Pure luck isn’t the only thing you need to wager money. If you feel like you have enough experience and skills to participate with other cruisers in poker or other card games that require logic and thinking — get ready to play.

Keep in mind that increasing odds leads to higher risks. So, stay away from impulsive decisions while your winnings are growing up. Remember that your gambles need to be based on well-thought-out strategies. Let’s take a look at the differences in winning opportunities based on casino type. Whether you choose a cruise casino, an online casino, or a land-based casino, you need to weigh your options carefully.

Cruise Casinos

One thing you need to realize about cruise gambling is that before you set foot in the cruise ship casino, you should familiarize yourself with the casino games you can play, since cruise casinos, unlike online gambling platforms, might not always offer the same rich selection of variations of blackjack, poker, roulette, or slot machines. Also, cruise ship casinos often offer promotions, such as free chips, match bonuses, or player’s club benefits. Join the casino’s loyalty program to earn rewards and take advantage of these offers to boost your bankroll.

Online Casinos

This option offers you more benefits than any land-based or cruise casino. The best real money online casinos provide players with an extended list of welcome bonuses, free spins, unique game selections, and advanced software, as well as numerous depositing and withdrawal options.

Some perks, available online, are impossible to get in land-based or cruise facilities. For instance, online casinos usually require lower entry deposits. You can establish quite a friendly gambling budget for yourself and forget about the fear of losing too much if you, of course, play responsibly and only wager money that you are not afraid to lose. With online casinos, gambling is more of entertainment than risk.

Land-Based Casinos

Compared to cruise and online casinos, the popularity of land-based casinos is fading away. Nevertheless, some of them might be the best of both worlds. Land-based casinos might be more budget-friendly than luxurious cruise facilities. At the same time, their choice of games isn’t limited to only table and card games. Unlike in cruise casinos, you can choose games with a lower house edge. The reason for this is that the selection of games is simply wider. For instance, practice video poker.

Casino Promotions and Loyalty Programs

As you see, cruise casinos are much like ordinary casinos. What sets them apart is that they have more advanced loyalty programs. You earn different perks and gather gambling points. Later, these points will be used to level up your status in a casino club. Some cruise lines may accept these points as payment options for certain services on a cruise. To gather them, you need to get familiar with the conditions. Usually, they are based on hours played.

Casino Currency and Payment Methods on Cruise Ships

As a cruise client, you can use your cruise card as a payment method . Casino services are included. This makes it easier to arrange everything. Also, some lines make their cruise ship casino payouts in cash. This is often relevant for penny slots. These are special machines that require minimum bets.

Etiquette and Cruise Casino Rules

• Respect the limits: If you see a notification about limitations on bets, stick to it. Don’t place too high or too low bets. That’s a disrespect to other players.
• Be polite with dealers: It goes without saying, that dealers are equal participants in the game. Be polite to them and your competitors.
• Leave tips: Place some bets on behalf of dealers and tip them with some winnings.
• Follow the dress code: A cruise ship is a place where you can let your hair down. However, keeping up with the casino dress code is a sign of respect for the facility.

To sum it up, a cruise casino is a worthy thing to try on your vacation. Gambling will make your routine more entertaining. Besides, it’s not easy to get used to. If you have some gambling experience, cruise casinos won’t be new to you. They only increase your potential satisfaction. It becomes possible thanks to special perks and the availability of other cruise services. While enjoying your favorite games, keep in mind responsible gambling principles. Never neglect casino etiquette rules. With them, you will not only enjoy the game. You’ll make a good impression on other cruise participants!

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Cruise Ship Casino Games Guide (Games Offered, Minimums, Payouts & More)

When night falls on a cruise ship, there’s arguably no more popular place to be than in the ship’s casino. The atmosphere is buzzing, people are shouting with every win (or groaning with every loss!), and the energy can be off the charts.

It’s the place to be in the evening, if you like to gamble. And if you’ve been to a casino before, then there’s a lot that’s going to be familiar. But if you’ve never been to a casino on a cruise ship, then there are some things that will definitely be a little different that you may not notice at first — especially when it comes to the games offered.

The traditional games are all there, including slot machines and blackjack. There are also some things that you wouldn’t expect in a casino, including games like the crane machine and coin pusher machines.

To help you get acquainted, let’s dive into the games you’ll find in a cruise ship casino, and what to know about them.

Slot Machines

If there is a most popular game in a cruise casino, it would be the slot machines, without a doubt. Any ship’s casino will be filled with rows of them and during the busy periods in the evenings, you’ll find most of them taken up by players.

The games offered are similar to what you’d find in a land-based casino. In fact, many of your favorites are likely to be onboard, including names like Lobstermania, Cleopatra, and Quick Hit. We will say that the large slot machines (e.g. those that are full experience like Wizard of Oz or Monopoly with rumble seats and more) usually aren’t found on cruises. We think that’s due to the size of the machine that may simply take up too much space on a cruise ship.

Denominations will vary, but penny machines seem to take up the lion’s share of what’s available. Often you can change the denomination right at the machine. Minimum bets tend to be around $0.40 – $0.50 cents per spin, with the ability to bet several dollars per turn.

Video Poker

Another machine that you’ll find in any cruise casino is video poker. That said, the number of machines and the poker games available are significantly fewer than you might be used to seeing.

In our experience, there is usually a bank or two of the machines, but not much more than that. Denominations are typically $0.25, but some machines may let you change that amount. Jacks or Better is always available, and often you can change the game at the machine. Even so, you may or may not find some of the variations such as Deuces Wild, Bonus Poker, multi-hand machines or machines that play with a multiplier. It will depend on the ship, but just know in general things are more limited.

As for payouts, video poker on a cruise will almost always offer lower pay tables than the optimum “9/6” machines. We find that they usually vary between 6/5 to 7/5, which increases the house’s take over the long term.

While machines take up the largest portion of the cruise ship casino floor, table games have a healthy showing. That includes roulette, which always seems to be a popular game on the ship.

Cruise ships offer double-zero roulette. There are all your traditional bets, including individual numbers, red/black, even/odd, as well as sections of the board. There is also usually a video board that offers up stats on recent rolls so you can get a feel for how the table has been running.

Minimum bets are usually $5 overall, but may be $10 in some cases.

Blackjack is another popular table game, and in the evenings you’ll see these tables plenty busy with players.

The rules are just like you find on land. Games are normally played with multiple decks (though we have seen single-deck games) and allow for doubling down. Traditionally dealers are required to hit on soft 17.

While blackjack payouts will vary based on table minimums, normally you’ll find 6:5. Higher limits will see the traditional 3:2 payouts for blackjack.

Minimums normally start at $5 (or $6 to make blackjack payouts easier) and go up from there. You likely won’t see minimums higher than $10-$25 on your cruise.

One more thing to note is that a number of the blackjack tables available also have side bet options available if you are so inclined.

Texas Hold ‘Em has boomed in popularity over the last decade or two, and that includes on cruise ships. Most cruise ships will have a poker table on the casino floor.

Unlike a typical casino, however, it’s not a situation where you can just walk in, sign up and start playing poker. Given the limited number of players on a cruise, games are normally announced ahead of time, not “sit and go.”

Keep an eye out on the daily planner for when a game is starting. Then just head down to the casino a little early for details on how to score a seat to play.

Like to throw dice? Cruise ship casinos all offer at least one craps table and sometimes two. We will say that the tables seem to be fairly slow during the day, but definitely see plenty of action in the evenings. So grab a drink, squeeze into an open spot and make some new friends at the table.

You’ll want to check out the table before you play as different ships will have different betting spots that pay differently. For instance, you’ll often find the “Big 6 | Big 8” bets. This large area pays you even money if there is a six or an eight rolled on the table. But if you simply “place” the same bet with a dealer, then you’d earn 7-to-6 ($7 on every $6 bet). Casinos place these “Big 6 | Big 8” in order to lure in bets with a higher house edge. Field bets often pay double for both 2 and 12, instead of paying triple for 12.

Odds bets can vary, with many ships allowing only 1X odds with others offering 3X-4X-5X. In general you will find $5 minimums, but don’t be surprised if that’s slightly higher at $10 as minimums do seem to be creeping up.

Scratch-Offs & Lotto

We’ve never been to a casino other than a cruise ship that offers its own scratch-off tickets. But sure enough, head to the cashier and you’ll see several options for these games to purchase.

Typically there are a handful of tickets available and they are cruise line branded. For instance, we played one game on Carnival that offered prizes of up to $30,000 and/or the chance to instantly win a cruise.

Just like on land, don’t expect great odds on these lottery tickets. Still, they are a fun way to play and come in affordable denominations. We bought one for $5.

In addition, many cruise casinos offer lotto-style drawings where you can buy a ticket and win if your numbers match. Look to your daily planner for the drawing times.

Other Games

As you can see, cruise casinos have plenty of well-known and favorite games. But there are some others that you should know about that you’ll see and typically don’t find in land-based casinos.

Crane Machines: Remember those arcade cranes you’d find and try your luck to grab a cute stuffed animal? You’ll often find those same machines in a casino, with the chance to grab stacks of cash. There are also other games like the “Keymaster” where you position a key in the hole to win the cash prize.

While these might look like games of skill, it’s well-publicized that they can be set to only win sometimes  by only allowing enough grip strength to occasionally pick up a bundle of cash. Keep this in mind when playing.

Coin Pushers: Remember the carnival (like the fair, not the cruise line!) that featured tokens you’d drop in to push even more over the edge? Well, they make an appearance on cruise ships only this time using quarters. Drop in a quarter and hopefully you can push more over the edge than you used… along with folded cash and other prizes stacked on top.

These games seem to be extremely popular on ships. One tip is to know that often the landing platforms for the coins have slots in the side of the wall. So not only can coins go over the edge and into your pocket, but they can be pushed to the side where they are no longer in play.

Other Table Games: We mentioned the most popular table games like roulette and blackjack. However, there are likely to be a number of different table games. What’s available will vary from ship to ship. We’ve seen Three Card Poker, Mississippi Stud, Baccarat, and others. The good thing is that cruise ships are great places to learn these sorts of games as minimums are typically low and there are few other players.

More on Cruise Ship Gaming:

• 12 Must-Have Cruise Casino Tips to Know Before You Play
• Cruise Ship Casino Gambling: Everything to Know Before You Bet

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Cruise Ship Casinos: Everything You Need to Know

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Gambling is one of the most popular activities on a cruise ship. Whether you are just trying your luck or an avid poker player, cruise ship casinos offer a little of something for everyone.

Nearly every cruise ship offers a casino. But before you play, there are some essential things to know.

While cruise ship casinos share many similarities with land-based gaming centers, there are some essential differences.

From game selection to payouts, we’ll cover everything you need to know about cruise ship casinos.

Table of Contents

What to Expect from Cruise Ship Casinos?

Cruise ship casinos closely resemble those found on land.

Many are styled after those found in Las Vegas or Atlantic City.

You’ll be greeted by flashing lights, dinging bells, cards shuffling, and drinks clinking when walking into the casino.

Each cruise ship has a different look and feels for its casino. Some provide a contemporary atmosphere, while others add a bit more creativity with Egyptian or Roman themes.

Walking around the casino feels a little claustrophobic. With limited space, cruise ships try to cram as many tables and slot machines as possible into the small area. But, once you find a seat, you won’t even notice.

What Are the Payouts?

In every casino, the odds always favor the house. And that’s is especially true at sea.

Payouts on cruise ships are far lower than on land.

On land, video poker games pay 9/6, or nine credits for a full house and six for a flush. But on a cruise ship, the payouts are lowered to 6/5.

For blackjack, it’s common to find that tables pay 6-to-5 instead of the usual 3-to-2.

Poker players will also be disappointed to find tables with a high rake (the “fee” paid by the winner to the house after each hand).

Because of the high rake, most poker players avoid cash games on cruise ships. It’s rare to find a cash game, even rarer to see a full table.

But thankfully, there are poker tournaments that offer lower fees to play (more on that later).

Gambling Age on a Cruise Ship

On a cruise ship, the minimum gambling age is 18.

While the minimum age in most states is 21, cruise ship casinos often operate in international waters, which allows them to lower the gambling age to eighteen.

However, cruises to Alaska require passengers to be at least 21 years of age to gamble.

Cruise Ship Casino Games

On a cruise ship, you’ll find plenty of traditional games, including:

• Texas Hold ’em
• Video Poker
• Three Card Poker
• “Skill Crane”
• Coin Pusher (with quarters instead of tokens)

Despite the small size of the casinos, cruise ships offer a surprisingly wide range of games.

You’ll always find popular games like blackjack, roulette, and slots.

Many cruise lines also feature games not found on land. For example, the coin pusher is exactly like the arcade machines, but with quarters instead of tokens. Try your best to push the quarters over the edge and maybe a bill or two.

The “Skill Crane” puts a twist on a long-time favorite where you try to line up a key to its hole. If you’re successful, the key will pass through the hole, pushing over a stack of bills.

Casino Minimums for Table Games and Slot Machines

Cruise ship casinos offer plenty of low-stakes games with minimums of less than $5.

You’ll always find plenty of penny slot machines and table games starting at $5.

Which Cruise Lines Have Casinos?

Nearly every major cruise line offers casinos onboard their ships.

Mainstream cruise lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, and Costa Cruises have casinos onboard their vessels.

The only major brand that doesn’t offer casinos is Disney Cruise Line. Disney caters primarily to families and young kids, and you won’t find a casino on their vessels.

The other exception is Norwegian’s  Pride of America  cruise ship. The vessel sails year-round to Hawaii and is one of the only major cruise ships without a casino.

You’ll often find the casino in the middle of the ship, near the promenade or atrium.

Casino Hours of Operation

Depending on the cruise ship’s location, the onboard casino may be regulated by several agencies.

Cruise lines follow a simple rule:  the casino is open while the ship is sailing.

When the ship is docked at the port, the casino is closed. It only opens later at night once the vessel has set sail, having left the port country’s jurisdiction.

As a rule, when the cruise ship is within three to twelve miles of the coastline, it will close the casino to comply with local gambling regulations.

However, there are two significant exceptions:

• In Alaska, cruise ship casinos are permitted to open 3 miles after leaving port and must close three miles before reaching the next port of call.
• The casino can remain open in countries with more relaxed gambling laws (such as Malta and Bermuda).

On sea days, the casino will be open most of the day. While the casino is available during the daytime, the table games might not be staffed during non-peak hours (early morning).

But there are always slot games and video poker while you wait.

Cruise Casino Loyalty Programs

Most cruise lines offer casino loyalty programs. You’ll earn points when you play, which can be redeemed for drinks, discounts, and future cruises.

Smoking in the Casino

Smoking rules vary by cruise line, but you’ll find that most cruise ships permit smoking , at least in a small section of the casino.

Although smoking might be allowed, we generally find that the smoke smell isn’t overwhelming. But, if you’re sensitive to smoke, you might not feel comfortable gambling on a cruise ship. Even when smoking is reserved for a small section, the tiny casino means it’s hard to get away from the smell.

Tournaments

You might find poker, blackjack, and slot tournaments during the cruise.

The tournaments usually occur on sea days during off-peak times (late morning or early afternoon.)

The tournaments are fun because they allow guests to win a large amount of money while only risking a small entry fee.

For poker players, tournaments are the best chance of winning any money at the tables. The cash game rake eats away so much money that most poker players avoid cash games at all costs.

Unlike cash games, there’s no rake in a poker tournament. For a small fee, players have a chance at winning a large pot of money or a free cruise.

Beginner Classes

Cruise ships provide an excellent place for beginners to learn in a comfortable environment. The casino staff is there to make sure guests have an enjoyable time. Their more than happy to assist if you’re new to a game.

Most casinos offer gaming lessons on the first few days of the cruise. During the class, a dealer will explain the game’s rules, basic strategy, and table etiquette.

Best of all, it doesn’t cost any money to learn.

The classes are great because they provide a quiet place to learn before real money games begin.

Cruise Ship Casino FAQs

Are drinks free in the casino.

Unlike land-based casinos, cruise ships don’t offer free drinks while you play.

You’ll have to pay for drinks, just as you would anywhere else on the ship. And the prices are the same.

You won’t need to go too far to find a bar. Cruise ship casinos have bars in the center or near the front of the venue.

Are There ATMs on the Ship?

If you need cash to play, there are ATMs on the ship. If there isn’t an ATM in the casino, you’ll usually find it beside guest services.

Just note that ATM fees on a ship are very high.

Do I Need Cash to Play?

You can use cash or your cruise card to play at the cruise ship casino.

Can I Play Using My Cruise Card?

You can play casino games using your cruise card. Simply swipe your card as you normally would when purchasing a drink or shopping on the ship.

Are Cruise Casinos Beginner Friendly?

The casino on cruise ships is beginner friendly. If it’s your first time in a casino, or you want to try a new game, the casino staff are more than happy to teach you the games.

We’ve also found that other passengers are always welcoming toward new players. Unlike large casinos, most passengers are not hardcore gamblers and are usually friendly toward new players.

Are there High Stakes Tables?

Very few cruise ships offer high-stakes tables. However, on some cruise lines, the pit boss may arrange a high-stakes game if enough players are willing to play a high-stakes game.

Will There be Penny Slots?

Yes, all cruise casinos have penny slots. Penny slots are one of the most popular game choices at the casino.

But be warned, many penny slots offer multiple variations, which could cost over $1 per spin.

Do Cruise Ships Have Poker Tournaments?

Most cruise ships offer poker tournaments during the cruise. After paying the buy-in, players can compete to win a prize ranging from cash to a free cruise.

On Royal Caribbean, the Texas Hold ’em tournament winners are eligible for a free cruise for two. The free cruise is where the final Royal Poker Tournament is held. With a guaranteed prize of $100,000.

Do Cruise Ships Have Blackjack Tournaments?

Yes, cruise ships have blackjack tournaments. Many of the tournaments allow passengers to rebuy if they lose.

While passengers who rebuy have a better chance of winning, you aren’t likely to win big unless you plan to rebuy several times.

Do Cruise Ships Have Slot Tournaments?

Is the cruise ship casino open 24/7.

No, while casino hours vary, the casino is usually open when the ship is at sea. The casino may open when docked at a port country that allows cruise casinos to operate, such as Malta and Bermuda. While at sea, the ship’s casino may stay open until 2 or 3 in the morning. And reopen around 11:00 am on sea days.

Are There Taxes on Casino Winnings?

There are taxes on casino winnings. All U.S. citizens must report casino winnings to the IRS regardless of where the winnings occur.

If you win $1,200 or more or win a table game with odds of 300-to-1, the cruise line will issue a W-2G form. A copy of the form is sent to the IRS and another to the winner.

Additionally, some cruise ship casinos will provide the option to have the taxes deducted from your winnings. Or, you can take the total amount and pay the taxes on your own.

Do Disney Cruise Ships Have a Casino?

Disney Cruise Line is the only mainstream cruise line that  does not  have casinos on its cruise ships.  Disney is best known for their family-friendly cruise vacations. You won’t find a casino on any vessel in their fleet.

Marcello De Lio

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how do I find out what lines pay 3/2 for a blackjack?

Some cruise lines offer the usual 3-2 payout for Blackjack, but only on the higher priced tables, usually $25 per hand or more. Princess Cruises and Carnival Cruises are two cruise lines that pay 3 to 2 at higher stakes tables.

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