Mad About Myrtle: The Casino Cruise To Nowhere
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Located on the east coast of the United States, in the middle of the mighty Grand Strand beach in South Carolina, Myrtle Beach is one of the countrys most tempting tourist destinations.
A winning blend of subtropical climate, and beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see, make Myrtle Beach a winner for fun and sun loving visitors. In fact, it is estimated that more than 14 million people make the trip down South every year.
Theres one more reason why Myrtle Beach is such a crowd pleaser. Just three miles offshore, the casino cruise ships are open for business. In the last century, a three mile limit off the coast was set as the boundary of the United States. This was based on the distance a shore-based cannon could fire.
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How Does Norwegian Encore Compare To Breakaway/getaway
Norwegian Encore is very similar to the Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway. Norwegian Encore is breakaway plus class meaning that she is a bigger version of the ships within the breakaway class. Norwegian Encore has two sisters, Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Escape, both of which are also breakaway plus class.
Many of the layout features and venues onboard are common across all ships. When walking around Norwegian Encore I definitely felt as though I knew my way around based on cruises on Getaway and Breakaway.
That said, Norwegian Encore isnt just a bigger version of Breakaway and Getaway. She also has extra attractions and venues onboard.
Cruise Ship Casino Gambling: Everything To Know Before You Bet
When it comes to cruising, gambling in the ships casino is one of the most popular activities. In fact, in the late evening it can be the busiest spot on the cruise ship.
In many ways the casinos on a cruise are very similar to what youll find on land just on a smaller scale. If youre someone who loves gaming, then youll feel right at home in a cruise casino.
That said, there are still a number of things you should know before gambling on a cruise. If youve never placed a bet on a ship, the tips and details below will make you a pro in no time and teach you everything you need to know before you try your luck.
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Seek Out The Hidden Comfy Chairs
From the back of the ship, youll have an amazing view as you leave your troubles behind.
Located on Deck 13 just past the basketball courts youll find a group of five or six uber-comfortable loungers, each big enough to hold several people and all with killer views of the wake.
Its the perfect place to cuddle up with that special someone and contemplate just how lucky you are to be enjoying a trip on such an amazing ship!
Got a cruise vacation tip to share about the Norwegian Gem? Hit the comments and let everyone know!
Want to read more from our special guest columnist Lauren Rodgers? Visit her blog, Lauren of All Trades.
Visit The Waterpark On The Ship
Maybe not everyone is ready for the Ocean Loops waterslide. But what about just some fun in the waterpark? Smaller kids will love the play area complete with tons of spraying nozzles and things to play with. The most fun feature is a huge bucket that fills with water and every few minutes dumps out, completely dousing the entire area and all the kids playing.
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Cruise Ship Gambling Laws
Whether it be in the Caribbean or the Mediterranean gambling is legal on cruise ships. The flag that represents the ship determines which countries laws the ship needs to abide by. Laws that are applicable to activities on the water are called Maritime law.
When a ship is docked it is then required to abide by the laws of the country whose internal waters they are in. Once the cruise ship has reached 24 miles from any internal waters it is then considered international water and can proceed to offer games. The laws of gambling when it comes to being at port will change according to the various countries.
Riverboat casinos follow fairly simple rules, due to the fact that they are always within the same territorial waters, they are required to abide by the laws of that country, these being the same laws that the countries land based casinos are required to abide by.
Did you know: River Belle casino is an online riverboat themed casino. River Belle Casino offers an online gaming experience, allowing players to play in the comfort of their own home.
The Allure Of The Seas
The second-largest cruise ship in the world, the Allure of the Seas by Royal Caribbean is 362 meters long and can carry up to 5400 passengers. It also features one of the biggest cruise casinos, covering 18,000 square feet. Casino Royal will meet all your expectations cause it offers 500 slot machines and 27 gaming tables. You can play roulette, blackjack, poker, craps, and Caribbean Stud in this glamorous place. For beginners, the casino even offers lessons while the more experienced players can take part in special tournaments. Whats more, players dont have to leave the place for a drink as the casino has its own cocktail bar. Making Allure of the Seas one of the best casino cruise ships right now.
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Look For Enrollment And Promotional Bonuses
Cruise casinos frequently offer incentives to get you in the door, such as free bets or matched play inquire at the host desk if you dont see them advertised elsewhere.
Another common promotion is to load free slot credits to guests accounts at the start of a trip, but these typically expire after the first day or two, so use them quickly or lose them.
Finally, check whether your cruise offers a “learn to play” session, which may come with complimentary drinks and casino chips for both novice and experienced gamblers.
Cruise Ship Casinos Are Only Open Limited Hours
Head to a casino on land and it will always be open. Whether you want to gamble at 7 a.m. Christmas morning or 10 p.m. on a Saturday night, youll always find land-based casinos welcoming your business.
On a cruise ship, casinos offer limited hours. First, they are closed while the cruise ship is in ports of call, usually to adhere to local regulations. They are also closed in the mornings while the ship is underway. Most casinos will open late morning and stay open throughout the day and well into the next mornings hours. If youre an early-morning gambler then youll have to wait.
Also, if you like table games then you may have to wait to play, even if the casino is open. Games like craps where there arent always a large number of players often stay shuttered until later in the afternoon.
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Royal Caribbean Club Royale
Club Royale membership is open to guests 18 years or older on most sailings you must be 21 or older to play on Alaska voyages. You can enroll by using your SeaPass card at an eligible slot machine or presenting it to casino management at a gaming table. You can also enroll before sailing by calling a casino representative at 888-561-2234, or through the Crown & Anchor Society.
Club Royale offers four status tiers based on gaming activity during the program year, which starts April 1 and ends March 31 of the following calendar year.
Choice status lets you redeem points as free play, or as credits to your onboard expense account . Youll also begin earning Instant Cruise Rewards Certificates, which range from a $100 discount to a complimentary cruise .
Prime status waives convenience fees up to 5%, and gets you complimentary drinks in the casino. At this level, youll also get an annual complimentary cruise in an interior cabin on select sailings . Signature status gets you complimentary Wi-Fi for one device, and upgrades the annual complimentary cruise to a balcony cabin.
Finally, the top-tier Masters status adds a slew of perks like priority entertainment access and dining reservations, an onboard credit of up to $100, luggage delivery, access to exclusive events and a further upgrade to a grand suite on your annual complimentary cruise. You can view a full list of benefits with more details on the Club Royale site.
Cruise Ship Casinos Actually Have Windows
Ever gambled in a casino with a view? Of course not. Its an age-old tactic used by land-based casinos to limit the amount of natural light coming in to keep people playing longer instead of thinking about the time. Many cruise ship casinos offer plentiful windows running down the sides of the ship. And if you get a seat near one, you can have a great view of the passing water while playing. Its a unique view for a casino and actually makes us want to stick around longer!
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Gambling On Cruise Ships
As mentioned, you can expect to find a casino on board most major cruise lines. The exceptions are Disney Cruise Line, Viking Cruises, and Voyages to Antiquity. Seabourn Cruise Line, Silversea Cruises, and Windstar Cruises may have casinos, but they are tiny, and many only include slot machines rather than table games.
If you want the full casino experience, you can find it on most ships from the Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, MSC Cruises, Princess Cruises and more.
When it comes to the rules of gambling, most cruise ship casinos only operate once the ship has left the port unless docked in countries where gambling is legal. Also, ship casinos are often not 24/7 so, they usually have opening times in the day and shut down at some point in the night. The opening times will vary across ships and cruises.
Now lets look at some of the best casinos on cruise ships. You can typically use both cash and cruise cards to play at them.
Cruise Ship Casino Games
On a cruise ship, youll find plenty of traditional games, including:
Despite the small size of the casinos, cruise ships offer a surprisingly wide range of games.
Youll always find popular games like blackjack, roulette, and slots.
Many cruise lines also feature games not found on land. For example, the coin pusher is exactly like the arcade machines, but with quarters instead of tokens. Try your best to push the quarters over the edge and maybe a bill or two.
The Skill Crane puts a twist on a long-time favorite where you try to line up a key to its hole. If youre successful, the key will pass through the hole, pushing over a stack of bills.
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What Is The Minimum Age To Play Or Hang Out In The Casino
On most cruise ships, the minimum age to be in the casino is 18. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara raise that age to 21 on sailings in Alaska, while MSC raises it to 21 in the Caribbean. Princess Cruises, Windstar and Seabourn Cruises are among the few lines that require passengers to be 21 in the casinos on all sailings. In many cases, casinos are located along main thoroughfares, so kids will be walking through although they’re not supposed to linger. If you wish to gamble, but think you might be too young, check with your travel agent or the cruise line before booking.
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Norwegian Cruise Line Loyalty Program
Norwegian has a point-based frequent cruiser program, Latitudes Rewards, that has seven tiers, ranging from Bronze to Ambassador .
Members earn points for every night they sail on one of the lines ships. They get an additional point for every night they stay in a concierge room, a suite or a room in The Haven. They also get an additional point for every night booked through a Latitudes Rewards Insider Offer.
Hitting the first tier, Bronze, takes one cruise. Reaching the second tier, Silver , would take at the most three cruises if youre doing seven-night trips.
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Lower tiers dont bring all that much in terms of truly valuable benefits. Youll get things like priority check-in and discounted spa treatments performed while ships are in port. But higher levels of the program start to be enticing.
Platinum brings free dinners at two extra-charge restaurants, a discount on an internet package, behind-the-scenes ship tours and concierge service.
The top Ambassador level brings a truly wonderful perk: a one-time complimentary seven-night cruise in a balcony cabin. You can pick almost any sailing except trips around Christmas and the new year.
A passenger staying in suites and booking through Latitudes Rewards Insider Offers could get to the Platinum level with just four seven-night cruises.
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How Can I Find Out More About Cruise Ship Casinos
You might also like the following article:
The What to Expect on a Cruise series, written by Cruise Critic’s editorial staff, is a resource guide, where we answer the most common questions about cruise ship life — including cruise food, cabins, drinks and onboard fun — as well as money matters before and during your cruise and visiting ports of call on your cruise.
Live Casino Games Offered
Playing live casino games is a growing trend in online gaming, and Norwegian players are not left out. As the country has no domestic licensed live casinos, they can instead join offshore casinos that accept Norwegian players. Some of the top live casinos offer a live version of blackjack that lets players interact directly with the dealer. This way, punters can see and hear the dealers voice while they play. In addition to live blackjack, other live casino games can be played on mobile devices, including iPads and iPhones.
Although Norways legal framework for gambling is relatively strict, it allows online punters to access international live casinos with no hassle. Norwegian players can access many of the best casinos on the web. Despite the strict gambling laws, Norwegian punters can feel safe and secure in an international live casino. And with no legal consequences if they lose, the Norwegian government is also supportive of international live casinos that accept Norwegian players. Its possible that the countrys laws will be lifted in the future, but for now, Norwegian players can safely play online.
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Casino Tips To Remember
Never bet more than you can afford to lose Cruises and casino gambling can be exciting. While its certainly great when you do win, it doesnt 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 ships 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.
Dont 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 ships casino. Many cruise lines have the policy that once you leave the ship, you wont be able to cash them in. You can certainly keep a few as souvenirs, while youre on board, thats 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!
Are Drinks Free In The Cruise Ship Casino
Its common in most casinos to get free drinks while you gamble, but thats not the case on a cruise. Most people still have to pay out of pocket for their drinks while gambling. The casino will have a bar in the center that you can visit. Prices are the same as what youll find elsewhere on the ship. Expect to pay $6-8 for a beer and $10-14 for a cocktail. Gratuity is extra.
If you achieve a high enough loyalty status you can get free beverages. For most people, however, usually you will be paying out of pocket for alcohol.
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Gambling Vacations In 2020
Want your next trip to be a gambling one? It doesnt get much better than a cruise. Essentially luxury hotels that sail between one exotic destination after another, cruise ships mean: all-inclusive and endless buffets, cringey but fun cabaret acts, a new location every day or two and, of course, a casino. Maybe even a great one
Now youre all clued up about gambling on cruise ships and the laws at sea, you can get planning your next trip!
What Types Of Machines And/or Tables Will I Find In The Casino
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All cruise ship casinos have numerous slot machine options, and most have table games as well, including blackjack and a variety of poker games that you play against the dealer. For Texas Hold’em played against other players, some ships will have dealer-dealt tables , while others will use electronic Poker Pro tables . Still other ships will not offer Texas Hold’em at all Silversea doesn’t offer poker of any variety. There’s usually also at least one roulette table and one craps table, and a rare few will have Baccarat.
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