Hello Reddit! I am a geopolitical strategist and forecaster. I have spent the past few decades trying to answer one very big question: What happens when the Americans get tired of maintaining the international system, pack up and head home? That work led me to assemble my new book, Disunited Nations: The Scramble for Power in an Ungoverned. Casinos are required to publish such numbers, even if it's buried somewhere in a governmental report. I'm very sure that the probabilities of hitting various combinations is known, although I'm unsure whether that's a result of casinos (or manufacturers) being forced to disclose the numbers or a result of very bored individuals figuring it out.
Whether you’re an avid poker player or just like to try your luck on the slot machines, cruise ship casinos offer a little something for everyone, without a flight to Las Vegas.
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While some cruise lines offer more games than others, blackjack, poker, roulette, and slots are standard on all ships except Silversea Cruises, which don’t allow poker. Here’s what cruise lines offer in their casinos so you can take a gamble on your next cruise:
| Cruise Line | Games | Minimum Bets | Penny Slots |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azamara Club Cruises | Blackjack, roulette, three-card poker, slots. | $3-$5 for table games; penny slots. | Gaming lessons available. Age: 18; 21 on Alaska sailings. Payment: Cash, onboard account, or pre-approved line of credit. Smoking is permitted. |
| Carnival Cruise Lines | Blackjack, roulette, three-card and electronic poker, craps, bingo, slots. | $5 for blackjack and craps; $1 for roulette; penny slots. | Card tournaments on select sailings. Age: 18 Payment: Cash or onboard account. Smoking is permitted; there are non-smoking areas. |
| Celebrity Cruises | Blackjack, roulette, three-card and electronic poker, Texas Hold ’em, , craps, slots. Baccarat and let it ride are available by request on Celebrity Reflection, Celebrity Silhouette, Celebrity Eclipse, Celebrity Equinox, and Celebrity Solstice. Number of tables and slots varies by ship. | Varies for table games; $5 for blackjack; penny slots. | Age: 18; 21 on Alaska sailings. Payment: Cash or onboard account. Smoking is not permitted. |
| Costa Cruises | Blackjack, three-card and five-card poker, fun 21, roulette, slots. | $5 for card games — $3 on port days from 8-9 pm and sea days 2-6 pm; $1 for roulette. | Age: 18. Payment: Cash. Smoking is not permitted. |
| Crystal Cruises | Blackjack, craps, roulette, three-card and electronic poker, Texas Hold ’em, slots. Mini-baccarat is available upon request. | $5 for table games; penny slots. | Age: 18. Payment: Onboard account, cash, or line of credit established before sailing. Smoking is not permitted. |
| Cunard Line | Blackjack, three-card poker, roulette, slots. | 25 cents for roulette; $1 for blackjack and poker; penny slots. | Age: 18. Payment: Cash or onboard account. Smoking is not permitted. |
| Disney Cruise Line | These ships do not have casinos. | These ships do not have casinos. | These ships do not have casinos. |
| Holland America Line | Blackjack, roulette, craps, three-card poker, Texas Hold ’em, slots. | $5 for table games; $1 for roulette, and Texas Hold ’em; penny slots. | Lottery, tournaments in slots or blackjack, free gaming lessons, and Club 21, a frequent players club with opportunity to earn rewards for every game you play. Age: 18. Payment: Cash, onboard account, cash advance. Slots only use card registered with onboard account. Smoking is permitted. |
| MSC Cruises | Blackjack, poker, roulette, chemin de fer, punto banco, trente et quarante, slots, bingo. | $5-$10 for table games; penny slots. | Tournaments. Age: 18 on Mediterranean sailings; 21 on Caribbean sailings. Payment: Cash, credit card, or onboard account. Smoking is permitted on all ships except MSC Divina. |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | Blackjack, craps, roulette, let it ride, three-card poker, Texas Hold ’em, pai gow poker, baccarat, slots. | $5 for table games; penny slots. | Tournaments in blackjack, slots, and Texas Hold ’em; free lessons on a variety of games; reward program is available. Age: 18. Payment: Cash or chips. Smoking is permitted. |
| Oceania Cruises | Blackjack, poker, roulette, slots. | $10 for 2 blackjack tables; $25 for 1; $5 for all others. | Age: 18. Payment: Cash or chips. Smoking is not permitted. |
| Princess Cruises | Blackjack, roulette, craps, Texas Hold ’em, three-card and five-card poker, let it ride, slots, bingo. Table games vary by ship. | $3-$5 for table games; penny slots on some ships. | Blackjack, Texas Hold ’em, and slot tournaments, table game lessons, and a lottery. Age: 21; 18 in Australia or the U.K.; 20 in Japan. Payment: Onboard account or cash. Smoking is permitted except on smoke-free nights. |
| Regent Seven Seas Cruises | Blackjack, poker, roulette, mini-craps, slots. | $10 for 2 blackjack tables; $25 for 1; $5 for all others. | Age: 18. Payment: Cash or chips. Smoking is not permitted. |
| Royal Caribbean International | Blackjack, roulette, craps, poker, slots. | $3-$5 for table games; penny slots. Table games vary by ship. | Blackjack, Texas Hold ’em, and slot tournaments; rewards program; and game lessons. Age: 18; 21 on Alaska sailings. Payment: Cash, onboard account, or pre-approved line of credit. |
| Seabourn Cruise Line | Blackjack, roulette, slots; poker is available on select days. | $5-$100. | Age: 21. Payment: Cash, onboard account, traveler’s checks. Smoking is not permitted. |
| Silversea Cruises | Blackjack, roulette, slots. | None. | Gaming lessons. Age: 18. Payment: Cash or cash advances. Smoking is not permitted. |
| Windstar Cruises | Blackjack, poker, roulette, slots. | $5 for table games. | Age: 21. Payment: Cash. Smoking is not permitted. |
How it works: Your cruise card is used to earn 'points' while you play. Once inserted, you set up a pin and then do one of two things: a) insert cash or b) charge a specific amount to your room. When you remove your card from the machine, the 'cash' left on the machine posts to your cruise card. This does not apply back to your room charge! You may then take the cruise card to the cashier and get your money off it and/or move to another machine and download 'cash' from your 'bank' on the card to the new machine. The machines do not give you tickets.
I usually set a gambling budget of around $200 for a one week cruise. I do not play max bet - I play conservatively at first but may play for a long time especially late at night. I move around and when I win, I usually upload the money to my cruise card, take the card out and download a nominal amount and start again.
You usually need around 1000 points to qualify for the drawing and/or receive a letter the last day offering you a 'free cruise' and sometimes cash.
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If you frequent the casino often, they will usually comp you a meal at a specialty restaurant and free drinks. I have had them send chocolate covered strawberries to my room. Again, I am not a high roller, just a consistent player.