They may be smaller than the ones in Las Vegas, but cruise ship casinos mirror what’s found on land in terms of rules and the training required for dealers. Cruise lines make sure they’re offering the latest and most popular slots and table games, including penny video slots and the ever popular blackjack. Here’s what you need to know to improve your odds, at least of having fun:

• Norwegian Cruise Casino Reservations Las Vegas Strip
• Norwegian Cruise Line Casino Reservation Center
• Norwegian Cruise Line Casino Reservations

Photo by Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian has a smaller fleet than Carnival and Royal Caribbean, but that doesn’t mean choosing one of their seventeen ships is an easy task. To simplify the process, we crunched the ratings from every Norwegian review we received last year to help you choose the perfect ship for your 2020 cruise. You’ve received a Cruise Reward Certificate courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line and Casinos At Sea. Your specific cruise details are listed on your certificate, but this page can guide you through frequently asked questions, what’s included and what to expect onboard.

1. Book a cruise, come aboard and find the casino. Ask the casino manager how to join the players club. On Norwegian Cruise Line (and sister lines, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas), you can sign.
2. Norwegian cruises to Bermuda and the Bahamas offer plenty of activities to satisfy all types of travelers, both onboard and in port. Soak up the sun on Norwegian Cruise Line's very own private island, Great Stirrup Cay. Go snorkeling, kayaking, or kite boarding on Nassau, or just bum around on the Bahamian beach.

1. Casinos close while in port.

Norwegian has some of the most spacious and modern staterooms in the cruise industry to relax in before venturing into an exciting shore excursion. The Norwegian fleet contains some of the newest cruise ships in the industry, and has the youngest fleet of all the major North American cruise lines.

Norwegian Cruise Casino Reservations Las Vegas Strip

If you plan to spend a lot of time in the ship’s casino, choose an itinerary with a lot of sea days. With a few exceptions — including overnight in Bermuda and Nassau ports — cruise ship casinos are required to remain closed when the ship is in port so as not to compete with local gambling or entertainment businesses. In Bermuda, casinos on ships can operate from 9 pm to 5 am, and in Nassau, from 7 pm to 3 am.

2. Ship casinos are open in international waters.

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Casinos are typically only open 3 to 12 nautical miles from the coast. However, in the case of Alaska, cruise ship casinos are permitted to open 3 miles after departing from one Alaska port until 3 miles before arriving in the next Alaska port, regardless of proximity to land. That’s good for gamblers, as cruises in southeast Alaska tend to hug the coastline.

3. Smoking is part of the game.

Norwegian Cruise Line Casino Reservation Center

Though there are fewer places to smoke on cruise ships than ever before, casinos are one of the last holdouts. Most cruise ship casinos, with the exception of the luxury lines, have designated smoking areas for cigarette smokers; however, cigar lovers are rarely permitted to light up.

4. Card sharks are a rare species at sea.

Norwegian Cruise Line Casino Reservations

Photo by SIME / eStockPhoto

Professional gamblers tend to focus their energies on the land-based casinos that are open around the clock, without the distractions of a cruise — from buffets to deck parties and those pesky ports of call. Plus, according to Paul Jarvis, vice president of casino operations for Carnival Corp., card sharks seek anonymity, and passengers need to provide the cruise line with their passport details before boarding.

5. Gambling theme cruises offer real competition for top players.

If you really want to double down on your gaming ops at sea, some cruise lines — including Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line — host blackjack, slots, and poker tournaments that attract hundreds of gaming enthusiasts. Qualifying rounds are held on cruises throughout the year, with the final competition taking place toward the end of the year.