The Best Cruise Casinos for Gamblers in the US
By
Mike J. Davies
Editor in Chief at Casinos.US Updated: 06/07/2023
Mike is our Senior Editor and experienced gambling strategist. A former hockey player, he transitioned to the casino industry after finishing his B.A. in English. Blackjack systems, online casino guides, gambling terms, and more – Mike is familiar with all fine points of gambling.
The Best Cruise Casinos
- US Cruise Casinos: A World of Fun
- Norwegian Escape
- Princess Casino
- Freedom of the Seas
- Celebrity Cruises
- Queen Mary 2
- Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re a gambling enthusiast looking to combine your loves of casinos and cruises, then this page is a must-read. We’ll look at some of the best cruise casinos on cruise ships departing from the US. We’ll also show you the common routes they take and look at the facilities available onboard. So, whether you’re a cruise casino veteran or brand new to the concept, we’ve got you covered!
Cruise Casinos in the US: A World of Fun
Much like the best land-based casinos, cruise casinos in the US are easy to come by. However, finding the best ones requires a bit of research. Thankfully, we’ve done all the hard work for you – and today, we’re going to show you five of our favorite cruise casino options. Combining the thrill of casino games with the luxury of cruise travel, these trips provide guests with an unforgettable experience while enjoying breathtaking ocean views.
While we’re going to give you an in-depth summary for each of the five casino cruises we recommend, we’ll briefly summarize them below, showing you the cruise or casino name, the operator, and details of their top trips.
| Ship/Casino Name & Operator | Details |
|---|---|
| Norwegian Escape – Norwegian Cruise Line | 7 nights, Caribbean |
| Princess Casino – Princess Cruises | 112 days, Around the world |
| Freedom of the Seas – Royal International | 7 nights, Southern Caribbean |
| Unnamed Casinos – Celebrity Cruises | 11 nights, Europe/Caribbean/Asia/Alaska |
| Queen Mary 2 – Cunard Line | 9 nights, US to UK |
Norwegian Escape: Our Number One US Cruise Casino
The Norwegian Escape, operated by Norwegian Cruise Line, offers arguably one of the best casino cruises in the industry. Checking the best cruise casinos and there’s a good chance you’ll see the Norwegian Escape coming up in first place!
The cruise leaves from Miami, Florida, and prices range from $400 to $1,800, so it can be a lot more affordable than you might think! Capable of accommodating 4,266 guests, this state-of-the-art cruise ship sails through the picturesque waters of the Bahamas and the Caribbean, treating passengers to many entertainment and gaming options.
The Norwegian Escape is a magnet for fun and entertainment. The ship houses 28 bars and restaurants, There’s a great selection of casino games, and the ship has 318 slot machines. There are tons of games, from roulette and blackjack, to craps, poker, and even Pai Gow!
It’s worth noting that the minimum bets might be slightly higher than on other cruises. For example, the minimum bet on Let it Ride and Blackjack is $5, while Ultimate Texas Hold’em has a minimum stake of $10.
The Norwegian Escape’s casino is part of the Casinos at Sea Program, rewarding loyal patrons. If players have played enough, they can redeem points using the ship’s on-board loyalty scheme: Casinos at Sea. This means players can exchange comp points for casino chips, and even merchandise. You can also use your Caesars Rewards onboard, giving you more of an incentive to collect those reward points while playing at Caesars Online Casino. There’s also a special high roller room, where table limits can reach up to $5,000.
Looking online, a lot of past guests have been very positive about the Norwegian Escape, mentioning the state-of-the-art facilities. What’s more, the casino also has a dedicated smoking section.
Princess Casino
If you’re looking for the best cruise casinos, you’ll be hard-pushed to go wrong with a 12-day journey with Princess Cruises, which runs routes all around the world. Princess Cruises started out with a single liner which operated from Mexico all the way back in 1965. Today, however, it’s managed to become one of the world’s leading cruise lines.
Princess Cruises has built a reputation for its fantastic onboard casino, combined with a luxury sailing experience. The ship is so well-suited for gamblers that it even received a special mention from USA Today. In a report, they said Princess Cruises was the “best cruise line” for those wanting to gamble on a cruise ship.
One of the things that really stood out to us was the fact that the ship offers free casino lessons for guests. There’s also the Princess Players Club, which is a loyalty program allowing frequent players to get exclusive bonuses – a comp points scheme, essentially.
Tournaments are available on every Princess cruise, and this is great for solo travelers as it allows them to meet other guests. In terms of the games on board, you’ll find a wide variety of casino table games, including blackjack, roulette, Let it Ride, 3-Card Poker, Caribbean Stud Poker, and daily bingo games. Guests can exchange cash, onboard account funds, or traveler’s checks for chips.
Aside from the on-board gambling, the ship is packed with other activities and entertainment, too. These include painting, paddle tennis, wine tasting, poolside games, and their famous Champagne Waterfall. Movies Under the Stars – abbreviated to MUTS – is a popular entertainment feature, while classic shows continue to draw huge crowds each night!
Freedom of the Seas
The Freedom of the Seas is operated by Royal Caribbean. One of its most popular cruises is a seven-night trip and it takes guests around the south of the Caribbean. Prices range between $299 and $2,200, so it’s one of the more affordable cruises on this page. The ship is huge, capable of hosting up to 3,644 guests. It features numerous entertainment facilities, shops, and restaurants. Of course, there’s also the on-board casino, called Casino Royale.
The casino – which is located on the fourth deck – opens once the ship enters international waters. In addition to the casino, the ship boasts a huge restaurant that spans three levels. There are also a few casual cafes, plus you’ll find four specialty restaurants.
The casino offers a variety of games, including 3-Card Poker, Single Deck Blackjack, roulette, craps, Ultimate Texas Hold ’em, and baccarat. Table limits vary, but there are plenty of games with a $5 minimum bet. When it comes to slots, there’s a mix of older and newer machines. Some of the slots you might find include River Dragons, Dancing Drums/Double Blessings, Mighty Cash, Heidi’s Bier Haus, Golden Egypt, Lock it Link, and Piggy Bankin’.
Video poker is also available, with win potential increasing with higher bets – something that’s common in land-based casinos, too. It’s a beautiful ship, and if you’re looking for US cruise casinos operated by an experienced company, you can’t go wrong with Freedom of the Seas from Royal Caribbean.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises offers many cruises, including 11-night trips with prices ranging between $300 and $3,000. The company operates several different routes – including, the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska – and even as far as Asia!
While the operator doesn’t have the largest fleet of ships in the world, the ones they do have are great, and include Millennium, Infinity, Summit, and Constellation. These four ships all have on-board casinos, each offering a small selection of casino table games, including blackjack, baccarat, Let It Ride, roulette, and 3-Card Poker.
There is also a variety of slot machines – including classic slot machine games and video slots. Some of the classic slot machines have a minimum bet of just $0.01, so they’re perfect for those on a budget, or for beginner players.
Celebrity Cruises ensures every journey is filled with excitement. They organize exceptional land excursions, for example, and put on entertainment every night. They’re child-friendly, too!
Queen Mary 2
The final casino cruise we’re looking at today is the Queen Mary 2, operated by Cunard Line. This cruise ship often operates a luxurious transatlantic journey between New York and Southampton – a similar route to the one the Titanic was taking before its fateful demise! This cruise lasts for nine nights, and costs between $1,200 and $3,000.
With a capacity of 2,691 passengers, this cruise ship gets a lot of praise for its cleanliness, service, and quality of the cabins. There are lots of different cabin options available, designed to suit those on all budgets.
Gamblers aboard the Queen Mary 2 will be able to gamble in the Empire Casino, a Monte Carlo-inspired gambling hall. Players will find around 100 slot machines and 12 casino table games, including blackjack, roulette, Texas Hold’em, and Three-Card Poker. There are a few video poker machines, although we were unable to find information on which games these are.
If you’re playing the casino table games, the limits range from $1 to $500 per hand or spin; playing video slots, you can play from between $0.05 and $5. The Empire Casino also provides free lessons on how to play casino games, which are led by the ship’s top croupiers. Though casual attire is acceptable, dressing smart in the evening is encouraged, given the luxurious ambiance of the Queen Mary 2.
