Gambling Cruises: Casinos at Sea
Is gambling illegal in your state? You aren’t alone, as gambling is illegal in many US states. Most individuals who dream of the machines work around these laws by planning gambling vacations, some of which involve cruises.
Gambling cruises can be an excellent way to see the world while playing your favorite casino games. Read on to learn more about gambling cruises, their offerings, and which boats are the best for someone who wants to win big.
What Are Gambling Cruises?
Gambling cruises are a deceptive term, because from what we can find, there are no cruises dedicated exclusively to gambling; that being said, there are often cruises that are better for gamers than others.
Although most cruise ships have casinos, some don’t, so if you are sailing to game you will want to check what your casino offers in advance. Additionally, the size of the casino is usually related to the size of the ship—so smaller ships may not have enough offerings on the casino floor to keep you happy.
If that weren’t enough, know that casinos prioritize slot machines, as they are more profitable for the casino, though many do offer some table games. On most ships, there is a roulette wheel, craps table, and a few blackjack tables, though some of the large cruise ships do offer variations of poker at sea. Just know that there likely won’t be the size of tournaments or variety of table selection you are used to.
Not only that, but most casinos at sea can only operate on open waters—meaning the casino will be closed when you are in port and may have somewhat odd operating hours. You won’t be able to just gamble whenever the mood hits, as you may be used to on land. The only upside of this is that most international cruises allow gaming at 18 instead of 21. Just be sure you check before you book if you are 18-20 and cruising solely to game.
So, if you are booking a cruise solely to gamble, do your research in advance to ensure you book a sailing that has exactly what you are looking for in terms of gaming.
Do All Cruises Have Gambling?
Most large-name cruises have casinos, but they don’t all. Off the top of our heads, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, MSC, and Holland are all brands that have casinos on most of their boats, but again, check before booking.
Do note that smaller boats, such as those dedicated to river cruises and inside passages, may not have a casino, and if they do, they may be much smaller than you are used to with far fewer options. Additionally, family-friendly cruise lines like Disney and Viking specifically don’t feature casinos, so if you are dying for a gambling cruise, skip these brands.
What Type of Games Are Available At Sea?
The gaming which is available at sea will vary depending on the cruise line and ship you choose. However, below is some of what you can expect on almost every cruise line:
· Video poker
· Kino
· Blackjack
· Roulette
· Craps
In general, table games which are played against other players (instead of the casino), like poker, aren’t available on most cruise ships, though larger companies like Royal Caribbean do offer poker on their larger ships.
Are Cruise Ship Casinos Worth It?
If you love gambling, then we are sure you will have fun gambling in a cruise casino. However, in general, cruise ship casinos have worse odds than any other in-person casino. This is because they have a captive audience at sea, and they know they can return even less than a Las Vegas strip casino, and people will keep playing.
If that weren’t enough, cruise casinos also have smaller jackpots than large casinos, though it is normal for there to be four and five-figure payouts from time to time. But if you are looking to make six figures plus, you need to visit a casino on land for that.
One of the benefits of gambling on cruises is that many cruise lines offer complimentary cruises to high rollers, so if you spend enough in the cruise ship casino, you might leave the cruise with another one booked.
Regardless, while we love to game, we often don’t find the cruise ship casino worth it, because of the restricted hours, restricted games, and lower win rate. While we will toss a few hundred dollars in for fun, we almost always spend the majority of our time on the cruise ship hanging out elsewhere.
Are Drinks Free in Cruise Casinos?
In general, you will have to pay for drinks in cruise casinos, no matter how much you bet, though this does vary from ship to ship. We suspect this is because most players already have a beverage package, and the casino wants to encourage them to purchase one; thus, they close the loophole of skipping a beverage package and then hanging out in the casino all day.
There are, however, several cruise lines which will give players free drinks once they reach a certain status level in the casino
What Are the Best Gaming Cruises?
Again, if you want to game at sea, a cruise is the way to go, and some offerings are better than others. Below are our recommendations for cruise lines and ships with the best casinos, where you will have fun playing whether you win or lose!
1. Diamond Princess operated by Princess Cruise Lines
This casino is reportedly the closest to a Vegas casino, and players enjoy the comps and free lessons.
2. Wonder of the Seas by Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean, in general, is a favorite among gamers because of its loyalty program and wide variety of ship sizes and destinations. This is reportedly the best of their ships.
3. Norwegian Encore by Norwegian
Norwegian Cruise Lines is a top pick among gamers for its loyalty program, though it can take a while to gain status. This ship has the largest and most diverse casino and is a top pick for gamers.
4. Infinity by Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity cruises offer smoke-free casinos, which we find is a make it or break it detail among gamers. One of the reasons it made our list is because of its live-action Deal or No Deal game.
5. Carnival Celebration by Carnival Cruises
Carnival Cruises is a favorite among gamers for its rewards program, which is easy to gain status, though the rewards tend to be less than those of other cruise lines on this list. This particular boat won awards for its casino, though recent sailors report that other aspects of the ship aren’t as nice as other cruises they’ve taken.
