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Do any cruise ships have poker rooms?

For Texas Hold'em played against other players, some ships will have dealer-dealt tables (Norwegian Cruise Line, most Royal Caribbean ships), while others will use electronic Poker Pro tables (Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises).



Yes, many modern cruise ships feature dedicated poker tables within their casinos, and some even host specialized poker rooms for high-stakes tournaments. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is a leader in this space, famously hosting the annual "Norwegian Poker Challenge" aboard ships like the Norwegian Joy. This event includes a Main Event and daily cash games (No-Limit Texas Hold'em) in a dedicated poker environment. Royal Caribbean also offers a robust poker experience across its fleet, including its newest giant, Utopia of the Seas, where you can find multiple tables for cash games and daily tournaments. Most major lines, including Carnival and Princess, offer electronic or live-dealer poker tables, though they are often part of the main casino floor rather than a separate quiet room. In 2026, "poker-themed" cruises have become increasingly popular, where entire sections of the ship are reserved for professional-style play, allowing enthusiasts to compete while sailing to destinations like the Caribbean or the Mexican Riviera.

People Also Ask

What types of machines and/or tables will I find in the casino? All cruise ship casinos have numerous slot machine options, and most have table games as well, including blackjack and a variety of poker games (Ultimate Texas Hold'em, Caribbean Stud, Three Card, Let It Ride) that you play against the dealer.

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If that sounds simple enough, you'll want to check out our collection of onboard poker games — from three-card tables where dealers shuffle and serve, to state-of-the-art Texas Hold'Em PokerPro ® tables, where you can see just what the deal is with touch-screen ease.

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Most cruise ship casino games operate under the same rules and payout percentages you would find in a land-based casino; therefore, the answer is yes, you can win money in a cruise ship casino.

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Yes, my first cruise in 2009 on the fascination, I won a jackpot of $5000 on a 50 cent bet. I went on to win another 2500 during that 5 day cruise (one of them being 500 in the slot tournament)... walked off the ship with about 7300 in cash.

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While the Casino is open in US Territorial or International waters, all US Citizens or Residents will be issued a W2G form and required information will be reported to the US Internal Revenue Service for the following events: Individual slot machine jackpot of $1,199.99 or more.

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