Best cruise ships with casinos
People love to dream about taking a cruise vacation, and one of the most popular things for people to do while onboard a cruise ship is to check out the action at the onboard casino.
What could be more fun than sailing to exotic places and trying your hand with Lady Luck? Here are some of the world’s best cruise ships that feature their very own onboard casinos.

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas
These grand dames are the two largest vessels within Royal Caribbean’s fleet of 26 ships with each having their very own onboard casino. These two are the most luxurious and have all of the amenities that you would expect at a land casino. Try your hand at blackjack roulette, craps, bingo, or play slots on the more than 450 slot machines, if that’s your game of choice. Passengers are treated to luxurious dining, décor and exotic experiences through one of many cruise packages that are on offer to worldwide destinations.
Celebrity Cruises
Each vessel that Celebrity Cruises has in its fleet can carry an estimated 2,800 to 3,000 passengers. Although not as well-known as Royal Caribbean, the two companies merged recently, yet both can maintain their very distinct identities and overall atmosphere for their guests. Most of the Celebrity cruise line ships feature standard casino favorites such as blackjack, three-card poker, roulette, craps, and slots. If you’re at all unsure about how to play any of these games, gambling lessons are available from pros that are on hand to teach you.
Whether you find yourself onboard the Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Silhouette, Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Reflection, or the Celebrity Eclipse, you will be able to take advantage of the onboard casino’s Blue Chip Club and the privileges and offerings onboard and at other MGM resort destinations around the world through their M Life Card.
Queen Mary II
This impressive vessel from the Cunard line lives up to its name. With departures from New York and Southampton, England the casinos on board this transatlantic luxury cruise liner are something to behold. It’s as if the James Bond film, Casino Royale comes alive before your very eyes and you’re a part of the excitement! The casino is a little smaller than those featured on other lines. However, what they lack in casino floor space, they more than make up for in sheer luxury. Patrons are asked to wear business casual or formal attire whether they are playing blackjack, roulette, three-card poker or video poker at the casino.
Norwegian Cruises
Founded in 1984, Norwegian Cruise Lines boasts that it has had more than 7 million customers in that time. A majority of Norwegian’s passengers gives this cruise line high marks for their onboard casinos. Three of the latest additions to Norwegian’s fleet, the Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Getaway, and Norwegian Breakaway, can carry as many as 4200 passengers, while the Norwegian Bliss, which set sail in the summer of 2018, features both smoking and non-smoking casinos for its guests. Norwegian takes great pride in the overall experience of its passengers and is committed to offering casinos which feature games like slots, blackjack, three-card poker, roulette, and bingo.
Crystal Cruises
If you’re looking for intimate luxury in a cruise with all of the intimate style of a private yacht, then look no further than to Crystal Cruises. The Crystal Symphony, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Experience each feature full, luxury casinos on board along with 24 – suite dining and complimentary fine wines, champagne, and spirits. Each casino onboard a Crystal Cruiseliner features slot machines, poker, blackjack and other favorite casino games in an intimate setting.
Casino tips to remember
Never bet more than you can afford to lose – Cruises and casino gambling can be exciting. While it’s certainly great when you do win, it doesn’t happen all of the time. Have a set budget for what you can gamble at the casino and stick to it.
Take advantage of the ship’s casino club – You could get extra discounts and benefits for other services while onboard and at other businesses onshore long after your cruise vacation is over.
Don’t leave money on the table – Before leaving the ship, be sure to cash in all of the chips you may have purchased or won at the ship’s casino. Many cruise lines have the policy that once you leave the ship, you won’t be able to cash them in. You can certainly keep a few as souvenirs, while you’re on board, that’s still money in your pocket. It might just come in handy the next time you want to take a cruise!
If you follow these tips and stick to one of the cruise ships on this list, you can enjoy your cruise casino dream to the fullest!