A sea day on a cruise ship has two centres of gravity: the pool deck, where everyone is by mid-morning, and the casino, which glows from breakfast until well after midnight. Here is how to get the best out of both.
When the ship's casino opens
Cruise casinos generally open only when the ship is at sea, typically once it is in international waters or wherever the laws of the waters it is sailing allow. In port, the casino usually closes and the slot machines go dark. That makes sea days the casino's busiest time and port days its quietest. Each cruise line, ship and itinerary has its own rules, and the daily programme lists the hours.
A sea-day routine that works
| Time | Pool deck | Casino |
|---|---|---|
| Early morning | Quiet: the best time to grab a lounger and a swim | Often still closed or very quiet |
| Late morning to mid-afternoon | Busiest: music, deck games, pool contests | Steady; tables fill as people escape the sun |
| Late afternoon | Thinning out; hot tubs and sunset | Tournaments and pre-dinner play |
| Evening | Movies by the pool on some ships | Peak hours |
The pools on board
- Main pool: the lively heart of the ship, with music and activities.
- Adults-only pools and solariums: many big ships have a quieter, adults-only pool area, sometimes covered with a glass roof.
- Hot tubs: often the most crowded water on board. Good pool hygiene habits matter here.
- Floats: ships usually do not allow personal inflatables in their pools, so leave the unicorn at home.
What you can play
A typical ship's casino offers slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps on larger ships, and often poker variants such as three-card poker. Some lines run poker or slot tournaments, and many have loyalty schemes that reward play with cruise discounts and perks. Bingo, a cruise tradition, is usually run in a lounge or theatre rather than the casino, and on many ships it is one of the most popular sea-day events.
Smart play at sea
- Check table rules. As on land, a blackjack table that pays 3:2 is far better than one paying 6:5; see swim-up blackjack for why.
- Set a budget for the whole cruise, and divide it by sea days, so one bad afternoon does not swallow the week.
- Your onboard account: many ships let you charge chips to your cabin card, which makes spending very easy. Some passengers prefer to buy in with cash.
- Taxes: winnings won at sea are not automatically tax-free; rules depend on where you are a taxpayer.
Gambling day cruises
Short "cruises to nowhere" exist mainly to gamble: a ship sails out from a port such as those on Florida's coasts, opens its casino once it reaches international waters, and returns the same day. Operators have come and gone over the years, so check current options before you plan one. They are the direct descendants of the gambling ships of the 1930s; read the story in our history of riverboat and floating casinos.
Sun, sea and sense
Sea days are long sun days with a breeze that hides how strong the UV is. Wear sunscreen even when it feels cool, drink water between cocktails and take breaks indoors. For a lounging plan at the next pool stop, see our best casino resort pools.
