5 SURPRISING Things About Cruise Ship Casinos

I delve into gambling in cruise ship casinos to discover how to play, what to focus on and how cruise passengers use gambling to unlock perks, freebies, heavily discounted and free cruises – without seemingly gambling much money. Whether you are a small and timid player of slot machines or a big fan of playing the tables, you will discover all you need to know before playing.

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00:00 Start
00:40 All have casinos?
01:10 casino watch-outs?
01:18 worse odds?
02:18 table minimums?
02:48 less intimidating?
03:56 opening hours?
04:23 age limits?
04:49 games available?
06:01 cash or card?
07:17 drinks?
07:42 land perks?
08:07 similarities to land casinos?
08:14 smoking?
08:32 taxes?
09:06 how to get free cruises?
12:13 responsible gambling?

[SD-cjsp]

FYI When I accidentally left a casino balance on a princess cruise within about two months I received a letter from the princess casino with a check from them for the entire balance Quite a lovely surprise

[spacenerd]

I applaud your decision to incorporate individual responsibility and recovery resources in this video. Excellent demonstration of your commitment to your viewers. 👏🏻

[kateshyne]

On my first HAL cruise I put $50 into a $1 video poker machine and played for maybe 20 minutes. Not sure how many hands were played. I’ve been receiving free interior cabin offers every couple of weeks since my cruise.

[SouthPawZilla]

Loved this video! My wife and I love to cruise and visit Vegas but I've always been more reserved in my gambling on cruises because of the tighter odds. After watching this and reading through Jen's article, I'm looking forward to adjusting my normal play on our next cruise. Thanks!

[chickenshippfarmsandoutdoo]

Your friend is 💯 right. My family was able to enjoy 7 cruises last year because of the casino rates. They basically allowed us to have the extra capital to gamble if we wanted to. Carnival has been sending us offers for free rooms too but we need specific dates to travel so they don't always work. We have all or cruises for 2023 and most for 2024 already booked thanks to the casino offers we get. They save us more than 50% off the regular price and usually include other perks, free drinks, internet, onboard credit, etc.

[ustophl]

I Have paid for only 2 cruises in 7 years yet sail nearly every month for the last 3 years for free and am now pinnacle on royal all from free casino cruises … am so thankful

[lisajaworski]

I’ve gambled as little as $10-20/day and still gotten many free cruise offers on both HA and Carnival. We did 4 free cruises in 2021 including a 14 day to Greece out of Italy. So you don’t have to gamble that much. Definitely meet the host, be nice, friendly and genuine.

[remizart]

My first Royal Caribbean cruise was in May and since then I’ve been given about 20 free cruise offers through the Casino Royale program. I gambled about $800 and brought home $1500 plus all those offers constantly get emailed to me. I’ve booked 5 of those offers and I’ve been on 2 of them with my next in January and then March/April! Got Platinum status now and next tier in March.

[davidponseigo]

I worked in multiple casinos in Louisiana on the riverboat casinos in the Security and later Surveillance Department and I learned a lot about all the games and how to play and even counting cards. Surveillance employees are actually taught how to count cards in your head so you know how to recognize when a patron is doing it and stop them but with everything I learned I actually win and leave with a decent amount of money.

[chevysnfirst]

I went on Freedom of the Seas in March 2022 and played on $300 on my 4 night cruise. I only earned 200 points. I am going on my first free 7 night on Serenade of the Seas next week. I also have a 4 night free interior offer booked on Liberty of the seas in January. I had more offers from Casino Royale, just no vacation time. I did not expect to get offers on what I played with. I hope to get more offers!

[philiphearn]

Thanks as a recovering compulsive gambler (6 years clean) the casinos on cruise ships have always put me off. Good to know some lines don’t have them. Can you self exclude your cruise card before a cruise begins to remove any chance of a relapse. Great to know that Gary is able to control his gambling but I suspect these casinos make some peoples trips very expensive and could start a dangerous journey.

[aeroAdvocate]

I have milked the Celebrity casino comp system dry as a desert well. Soon I’m Elite Plus and haven’t paid for one single cruise. Usually I pay slots and put $500-1000 per cruise into the machines. All my comp cabins are Aqua or Concierge Class. I’m Amethyst with Blue Chip Club now.

[cyoda]

I also played $2/$5 no limit Holdem cash poker games daily and tournaments on sea days on the Celebrity Beyond this past September. It’s a lot of fun and very social - some of the cruise lines used to have these automated poker tables (no actual dealers), but I think most have gone back to live dealers. However, there is usually only one live poker table and they won’t run a cash game unless at least 5 players are seated. Definitely recommended if you like poker - its very chill and social!

[JJCruise]

Great video! We know these Casino Loyalty Programs well and will add that Celebrity Cruises has Poker Tournaments (guests vs guests) as well as no smoking in their casinos. They also have free drinks while playing in the casino. Celebrity is the closest we have found to that of an ideal casino environment with a really great loyalty program as well!

[Mrfrontrow]

I love the BlacK Jack tournaments. This past October I and my wife did NCL to Alaska out of Seattle and I won the tournament!!($500) Also did trans Atlantic west bound on QM2 back in end of April and won the first tournament and placed 2nd in the 2nd tournament. Over the last 15 years I have won about 6 or 7 Black Jack tournaments on cruises. It's always fun to meet and chat with other players. A great way to get to know other passengers.

[dianes]

Carnival offer Premiere and Journeys cruises, free drinks in the casino for players of certain packages. I've met people who get free cruises, we have had very cheap cruises, including New Zealand and Seattle to Sydney. Cruises from Australia are 18+ years for alcohol and no smoking in the casino. I find the first and last day of cruises the luckiest in the casino. I always use the on board credit on the machines. Thanks for the extra tips, I will check out the other pages.

[clbert]

For those of us who would gamble anyway, gambling on board works out well if you remember to set your limits and stick to them. The slot machines are set to the requirements of the country where the ship is flagged which are different than those in the United States. All of your tips were on target. My annual budget is just enough to make Prime on RCI and I get offers frequently enough to cruise 2-3x per month. The last 15 comp cruises from Club Royale cost me about $1500 in port taxes and fees with free slot play and onboard credit from Next Cruise. Of course, living in a cruise ship port town makes cruising more accessible. I just finished my 31st cruise since 2020 and am on track to make Pinnacle in February.

[nmsu]

Interesting vlog, and massive respect to you for at least sharing how you and your fella gamble. I work in a bookies, there are so many people who don't know when or how to stop.

[jeanmorgan]

I often go into the casino as I am a vaper. I see the $50 that I allocate to losing as money well spent since I actually just play the penny slots very slowly. I am not a rule breaker. I only vape where allowed which usually comes down to outside in all weathers or in the casino in 10 minute visits. I always get a players card but have never been offered even a free drink let alone a free cruise. I don't think I am their sort of gambler.

[davis]

We were recently on RC Allure of the Seas and their casino did have baccarat in a “high roller” area. I walked through the casino many times and only saw one man playing baccarat, while the other table games were full of players.