A Guide to Cruise Ship Casinos

Cruise Ships with Casinos

Not all cruise ships house casinos but many do. Ultimately, it depends on the cruise line rather than the ship itself. Many of the larger cruise ships will have casinos, but so do some of the much smaller ones. You will easily be able to check before booking a cruise if the ship has a casino. There are some cruise lines, such as Disney Cruise Line, that do not offer casinos on any ships, but you will find that when looking at international cruises, most do. Ships going on single day expeditions and riverboats very rarely have casinos.

Cruise Ship Casino Games

When you visit a cruise ship casino, the selection of games will be very similar to that of a regular casino. You should find a large number of slot machines as well as table games such as blackjack, baccarat and various forms of casino poker. There may well be regular poker tables as well, giving you the chance to enjoy games with your fellow passengers, and there will likely be a mixture of dealer-dealt tables and electronic tables. Despite being at sea, you will also find games such as roulette and baccarat, with advanced tables to ensure that the waves do not disrupt the gameplay.

When it comes to betting limits, unless you are on a truly exclusive cruise, you should find that there are games to suit all bankrolls. This means that you will find penny slots as well as slots that are far more expensive. There will also be regular gaming tables and a few tables set aside for high rollers. Many cruise lines offer high roller tables as an option, but will only open them if there are enough players on board who want to play. If this sounds like you, then be sure to speak to the casino pit boss.

You will also find that you are able to take part in casino tournaments while on your cruise. There are very often slot or blackjack tournaments. Normally, the tournaments will have buy-ins but not actually require you to spend more money during the tournament itself. As with regular casino tournaments, there may be the option to rebuy your way into a blackjack or poker tournament. The prizes on offer vary depending on the cruise line. Most simply offer cash prizes for winning a tournament, but some cruise lines have been known to offer fantastic prizes such as free cruises together with entry to special tournaments with huge prize pools.

Cruise Ship Casino Restrictions

Despite being in international waters, there are some restrictions on cruise ship casinos. To begin with, the casinos rarely operate 24/7. They are only open when the ship is out at sea or in port in a few select countries where gambling is allowed, such as Malta. Sometimes the casino may be closed during the day even when out at sea as there simply aren’t enough passengers interested in gambling to make it worth keeping it open during daylight hours. However, in the evening, the casino will usually stay open until 2am or 3am. If you view the casino as an integral part of your cruise, then simply check the opening hours before booking.

There are also age restrictions on cruise ship casinos. On most cruise ships, you will have to be at least 18 years old in order to gamble. However on some, the age is as high as 21. You are likely to see children walking through cruise ship casinos, but they will be strictly forbidden from gambling. If you are in the 18 to 21 age bracket and want to gamble, then be sure to check with the cruise line before booking regarding their age policy.

Another area where restrictions vary is the smoking policy. You will find that many big ships do actually allow smoking in parts of the casino, but they will also have smoke-free sections. Some even go as far as having a separate room for smokers. However, there are plenty of ships where smoking is not allowed, so if you want to enjoy a cigarette or cigar while playing your favourite games, it is important to check the smoking restrictions in advance.

Cruise Ship Casino Perks

If you are a regular visitor to land casinos, then you may well be used to receiving perks such as free drinks while you play. When it comes to cruise ship casinos, the drinks are generally only free on cruises where drinks are always free. This tends to be the case on either luxury lines or those offering all-included packages. Unfortunately, on most cruise ships, you will have to pay for your drinks, just as you would at the bar. However, many cruise ships give pit bosses the authority to order a round of drinks for the table a few times a night, so it is worth making friends with them and tipping them.

You will also find that some cruise lines run casino loyalty programmes. These give you the chance to collect points and they may earn you a few free drinks. The casino loyalty programmes are usually separate from the general cruise line loyalty programmes. Just as at a regular casino, as you place bets you will earn points, which can then be converted into rewards. However, you will likely find that you have to bet large amounts to earn a significant amount of points, so it is rarely worth gambling just to earn rewards. You should also be aware that the rewards you earn on one ship may not transfer to another, even within the same cruise line. Therefore, while the loyalty programme is worth looking at, it is not worth paying as much attention to as the loyalty programmes at land-based casinos (which are easier to return to).

One final thing to be aware of is the way that payment works in cruise ship casinos. On most ships, you will be able to pay with both cash and your cruise card. You can convert your cash into chips at the tables or the casino cashier while slot machines will usually take a cruise card or cash. There are very few cruise ship casinos that are cash only. The advantage to using a cruise card is that it makes it easier to track loyalty points.

Cruises are hugely enjoyable and an on-board casino can only make them more so. Hopefully now you know exactly what to look out for when booking your next cruise, so that you can be sure it will satisfy all of your gambling needs.