Gambling is risky — however, sometimes trying your luck in the cruise casino is rewarding and can save you thousands on future vacations. 

One such cruiser, Redditor Apprehensive-Gap1339, recently took to Reddit to share how they turned one lucky run in the casino into nearly $50,000 worth of Royal Caribbean sailings, equating to over 100 nights at sea. 

The original idea began on a 14-night transatlantic cruise from Miami to Southampton, in which they began to wonder if they could "hack" the Casino Royale program and walk away with two free cruises each year. 

"...[I]f we're paying for 2 cruises on average per year...why not try to hit the 2,500 points or in this case it was 3k on that sailing to get 2 free guaranteed cruises (one for hitting prime and one for 3k on one cruise). I had never gambled on a cruise ship before this," they explain. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean crew member shares how to earn free cruises in the casino

Continuing on, "Statistically if you play the slots you'll lose about 85% of what you put in so it would have been about a projected $2500 loss if odds played out. I actually ended up about $500 at the 3k points mark (I got lucky!) Little did I know that genuinely good cruise offers started rolling in as soon as I got back to shore."

Offers included 7 to 8-night voyages on Oasis Class ships in balcony cabins. Because Apprehensive-Gap1339 works remotely, they were able to book multiple cruises throughout the year without worrying about the sail date or PTO. 

However, as they began to sail more and gamble less, their offers gradually became less generous. They went from getting offers in balcony cabins on newer ships to windowless, interior staterooms on older vessels. 

(Credit: Apprehensive-Gap1339/Reddit)

Since their very first casino offer cruise on Oasis of the Seas in November 2024, every sailing they've embarked on has been booked through the Casino Royale program, totaling 105 nights at sea and 144 loyalty points. 

"I am not saying this is a magic free-cruise hack but my net gambling losses over the whole experiment was $1,195.16. I did not gamble in all of 2025-2026," they add. 

Across their 15 casino-offer cruises, they've taken one one-way and fourteen round-trip sailings from ports like Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Boston, Los Angeles (San Pedro), and Port Canaveral. 

Read more: I gamble a lot on Royal Caribbean ships to earn free cruises. Here are my 10 hacks to maximize the cruise casino perks

During their adventures, they visited nearly 50 ports of call across the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico, Bermuda, Canada, and Europe, with the most visited stops being Perfect Day at CocoCay (10x); Nassau (4x); Philipsburg, St. Maarten (4x); Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas (4x); Labadee, Haiti; (3x); and Falmouth, Jamaica (3x). That said, their favorite destinations were Bermuda, Lisbon, Halifax, and Aruba. 

Apprehensive-Gap1339 primarily sailed on Oasis Class ships, calling vessels like Symphony, Oasis, and Utopia of the Seas home on over 55 different cruises. However, he also sailed on Independence of the Seas (21x), Navigator of the Seas (7x), Brilliance of the Seas (7x), Grandeur of the Seas (7x), and Enchantment of the Seas (5x). These experiences gave them a deeper understanding of the Royal Caribbean fleet, learning what different classes offer. 

"I understand that I am extremely lucky to be in a position to do this. It's a little surreal to be only 1 night away from diamond plus. This resulted in memories that I will remember forever and for that I am very very grateful. I am only sharing this in an effort to provide some real financial transparency into the real costs and into what is possible/real with those that are curious about casino offers."

Here's a breakdown of how Apprehensive-Gap1339 turned a little casino play into major cruising rewards that, out-of-pocket, would have cost around $50,000. 

How much did they gamble to begin receiving Royal Caribbean casino offers? 

Casual gamblers who put $50 or $100 on a slot machine and then walk away aren't likely to see any worthwhile rewards pop into their email inbox. 

According to Apprehensive-Gap1339, they initially aimed for 2,500 points in the casino to earn Prime status. However, they ended up with some beginner's luck and made it to 3,000 points, only losing $1,195:

"The first big run happened because I got to 3,000 points on a transatlantic and then the offers started pouring in after that. My original math...was that I had about $17,500 of slot coin-in to end up down about $1,195, which was lucky."

(Credit: Apprehensive-Gap1339/Reddit)

"Typical casino slot [odds] should have put me closer to a loss of closer to $2500-3000. That outcome should not be treated as normal but for the sheer amount of offers I was able to take advantage of it was incredible."

For them, slots were the easiest way to track their casino points evenly. As such, they avoided the table games and only focused on the slot machines, where you gain one point per $5 bet.

Casino points are tracked via SeaPass cards, so when gambling, remember to sign into the machine with your cruise card. Otherwise, the points won't go toward your Royal Caribbean casino loyalty program progress. 

Casino offers aren't "free"

Although the cruise fare is "free" guests booking a casino offer are required to pay taxes, port fees, and other expenses. In their Reddit post, Apprehensive-Gap1339 included a cost breakdown to help give a better understanding of how much he saved versus what their out-of-pocket spend would have been. 

According to their post, they spent $1,942.20 on gratuities, $2,028.64 on WiFi, $2,591.65 on port fees and taxes, and $3,600.84 on flights. 

Excluding the initial casino spend, their out-of-pocket cost was a little over $10,000, breaking down to $96.11 per night. That is a great value considering everything that's included in a cruise — ranging from accommodations to food, select beverages, entertainment, and transportation. 

Had they booked each sailing through Royal Caribbean's website, the cost would have come out to around $49,848 for the 15 cruises. 

Apprehensive-Gap1339 would not hesitate to do something like this again, but they would do a few things differently. For starters, they would take advantage of more back-to-back cruises to cut down on the cost of airfare, which was more expensive than over 100 days of gratuities and Wi-Fi. 

Additionally, they wouldn't cruise at the same pace they previously did. 

"I would not do [this] again at this same pace. That pace was just a little too much to be [fully] enjoyable," they explain, "There were stretches where I was cruising an absurd percentage of my days, and while it was amazing, it also gets tiring always being in transit, half-packed, managing flights, dealing with laundry, and just not being home."

Read more: I got a free cruise in the ship casino. Here's what it really cost me

Royal Caribbean casino Prime benefits

Apprehensive-Gap1339's initial goal was 2,500 casino points because that's the threshold for Prime status, which unlocks the first real, worthwhile benefits, including:

• 10% Vitality Spa discount
• Waived fee for cash advances in the casino
• Complimentary drinks in the casino
• Discount on VOOM Wi-Fi
• Annual cruise in an inside cabin (up to 7 nights)

Club Royale is more akin to airline and hotel loyalty programs than the cruise line's Crown & Anchor Society. In other words, points must be accumulated annually to reach certain status levels. So, if you reach Prime status this year, you aren't grandfathered into the tier for life.

(Credit: Apprehensive-Gap1339/Reddit)

The Club Royale qualification period runs from April 1 through March 31 of the following calendar year (i.e., April 1, 2025 — March 31, 2026, then April 1, 2026 — March 31, 2027). 

Read more: I spent $500,000 in a cruise ship casino this year. Getting Royal Caribbean's top casino status gets a lot of perks, but is it worth it?

Reaching Royal Caribbean's highest casino loyalty tier requires a level of play most cruisers will never experience, and it raises an obvious question: is it actually worth it?

Craig Hart is an avid cruiser and also enjoys playing in the ship's casino.  Up until this year, he had gambled enough to make it to the first two tiers of the casino loyalty program. However, he pushed to make it to Masters level to see what it was all about.

Many cruisers have leveraged the casino on a Royal Caribbean cruise not just for entertainment, but as a strategy to take advantage of its loyalty perks. You can earn free cruises, drinks, and even get money back. All of it comes at great financial risk, as you'll need to wager enough money to earn the points.

While we've heard from casino players who have made it to Prime or Signature, Masters is an entirely different level that requires a lot of play to reach. 

Gambling is is risky and addictive, and there's a good chance you'll lose a lot of money. Please gamble responsibly.

I asked Craig to share his insight on making it to Masters, what the perks are like, and if he thinks it was worth it.

$500,000 through the casino, is it worth it?

First off, gambling can be highly addictive and you can exclude yourself from Royal Caribbean’s Club Royale, with that being said, if you play your cards right, you can earn big rewards. But is it worth $500,000 through the casino for me?

Everyone who has a Crown and Anchor account that is 18 and over, which is created on their first sailing on Royal Caribbean, also has a reward account with the casino. It uses the same account number. 

There are four levels of Club Royale: 

• Choice
• Prime
• Signature
• Master

Each comes with perks that progressively get better as you level up. As a brand-new Master Level player for Club Royale, do I find the perks worth the play?

Choice is everyone who has accumulated at least 1 point, which is equivalent to $5 through a slot machine or $10 average bet on table games over the course of an hour. Prime is 2500 points, Signature is 25,000 points and Master is 100,000. Each level has their perks and they only get progressively better.

The most valuable perk on the ship that I use is the free internet. Starting at Signature, you get one device at Master you get two. This is great for working from the ship if you need a phone and computer or if you and a partner go on a sailing as you can share the internet. Since travel routers are banned on Royal Caribbean, this adds a value above Signature benefits. 

From the time I turned Master, on December 14, 2025 until the end of the current casino year benefits April 1, 2027, I currently have 70 nights booked. At an average of $20/day/device that is a savings of $2800 on internet! I will book many more sailing with all the instant certificates as well as random offers that appear in my account that only add to this savings!

The next major benefit that I use is the free drinks in the casino! Anyone Prime or higher gets free drinks in the casino, when it is open. Since I am also Diamond Plus, I get 5 free drinks onboard the ship or at their private islands. From this benefit, I do not purchase the drink package unless I am travelling with a group of friends like I do on the Royal Caribbean Blog Group Cruises!

A mixed use benefit is Coastal Kitchen access on Oasis, Quantum and Icon Class Ships! I have used this benefit several times on my sailing. This perk is also available if you book a full suite, if you are a Pinnacle Club member of Crown and Anchor Society or for dinner if you book a Junior Suite. 

If I am with a group of people who do not have access like this past guys trip, I tend to skip Coastal Kitchen and eat with the group. 

I did, however, use the 20% off credit in the spa to get a haircut on that sailing. When I went to book my appointment, they did not provide the discount, in fact they were not sure of the discount amount. When I checked out after the haircut, they also did not apply the discount, so they had to refund and reissued the transaction with the proper discount. This benefit is only for full retail price services. 

If you like to prebook, you may save more using the cruise planner. Often, they may even have specials onboard, so this perk really is only beneficial for last-minute services.

The one perk I use 100% of the time (and mostly in the casino) is the onboard credit. Typically, several hours after the casino is open a non-cashable credit is applied to your account. $50 on 3-4 night sailings, $75 on 5-6 night sailings, and $100 on 7+ night sailings. Although this credit does not have to be used in the casino, if you do, it is eligible to earn points unlike the free play that is offered on some certificates. 

Since I often get comped junior suites, I already have priority access to the terminal as a suite perk, but it can be a nice perk when you are not sailing in a suite. Although at Port Canaveral, which I would consider my home port based on how often I sail out of there, they are so efficient, it often does not make a difference on what line I am in.

The next several benefits are the same if not very similar as The Key:

• Priority Entertainment Access and Dining Reservations
• Carry-on bag onboard drop off with priority delivery to stateroom
• Welcome lunch in Main Dining Room featuring Chops Grille menu
• Flexible departure with à la carte breakfast

The two times I had The Key, I only used the carry-on bag drop once and skipped the rest of the benefits. Since I am on Utopia of the Seas so often, I prefer the Windjammer seafood buffet on embarkation day! If I am not there, I would rather go to Coastal Kitchen, which is open for lunch on embarkation day, so these benefits to me have no value.

One benefit I am going to try this year is the Hard Rock Partnership. I am going on Wonder of the Seas in February and what better way to take advantage of free nights and $600 of resort credit during the stay. This is saving me at least $200 on a hotel for the night as long as I don’t spend it in the casino!

One of the best perks, and this comes regardless of your status, you can receive random casino offers, which will show up in your online account, email and physical mail flyers. These can offer inside staterooms or even Junior Suites, slot tournaments, special events or even include perks! 

Casino Royal does not publish how they determine offers, but it is believed based upon your last several sailing play. Short sailings with lots of play each night may result in better offers, longer sailings with the same amount of play may lower the offers. We truly do not know.

The single biggest perk I use are the comped sailing offers. When you play on each sailing, there is a list of comped sailing at the host desk that is based on the number of points you accumulate during that sailing. 

The big benefit is you can also earn free play in the casino. Although free play does not earn points in the casino, you can use it on tables or slots to earn cash. If you want to have fun and use all your free play on my lucky number 13 in roulette, you are not out of any of your own cash! 

I will often book a refundable deposit on sailing I know I want to go on and as I get closer will cross reference the offers to see if the sailing is on the list. 

For instance, a new year’s 7-night sailing was on an instance certificate I earned on my January sailing of Utopia of the Seas. I was able to pick up the points needed for a balcony, which I was already booked. 

The cash price of the sailing was $2742 whereas I lost $1200 on Utopia and was able to get my room comped in addition to $750 in free play. Since I was already going on that sailing and I lost less than the cost of the sailing, it is a win, win for me!

Is Masters a level I will strive for every year? No, but while I am here, I will take advantage of the benefits I have and continue to enjoy the casino to prepay for my cruises and have additional fun on the ship!

Happy sailing and good luck!

If you're lucky, Royal Caribbean could send you a free cruise offer in the mail as an incentive to come back onboard and gamble some more.

After you cruise with Royal Caribbean and spend money in the casino, there's a chance you'll be mailed an offer to come back and sail for free or at a discounted rate.

These targeted offers are sent as a post card in the mail, and it's one of the best values right now in cruising.

How it all works can be a bit confusing, so here's a breakdown of how these casino mailers work and what to do if you if you get one.

A card could be mailed to you

Essentially, Royal Caribbean's casino program will send offers to certain members with free or discounted cruises and they are indeed legit.

Unlike scams sent in the mail to get you to attend a timeshare sale presentation, these come directly from Royal Caribbean. They're colorful, and have a special code for redeeming.

Each card has a limited selection of specific sailings. Usually, there are a dozen or so options.

There's no flexibility with the ships or sail dates. You can either pick one or none.  There's certainly no obligation.

Depending on your status within Casino Royale and how much you've gambled recently, the cabin selection can vary. You might get offers for an inside or oceanview cabin, or a balcony.

You'll still have to pay the port fees and taxes, which vary depending on which sailing you pick.

The offers could be for any type of cabin category, but most people get an inside or oceanview.

The other factor is if the free cruise covers one or two people.

Sometimes it's just free cruise fare for one person, and you'll have to pay a discounted rate for the second person in the same room. But it could be for two people too. You just have to read the fine print.

Some important information about these casino offers in the mail:

• You still have to pay taxes and all fees, which can be hundreds of dollars
• You earn Crown and Anchor Points from free casino offers
• You can only book 1 sailing with any particular offer code

How do you qualify for free cruise offers from the casino?

No one knows exactly the logic or "casino math" to qualify for random offers, but my experience has taught me consistent play is the key.

The point of these mailers is to entice people that have demonstrated they're willing to gamble in the casino to come back and cruise again so they can gamble more.

Suffice to say, you first need to be go on a Royal Caribbean cruise and play in the casino and wager enough money to "make it" onto the casino's algorithm.

How much you need to wager is anyone's guess, but my best recommendation would be enough to get you 200 - 300 points in the casino on a single sailing.  

In my experience, low or no play onboard (especially if you're on a casino comp sailing) can cause your offers to stop or slow down.

Always use your Seapass card to log into the machine before you start playing.

One point is equal to $5 wagered at a slot machine, so to get 300 points, you'd need to wager $1,500. Remember, that's wager and it doesn't matter if you win or lose.

Realistically, you're not going to lose every single bet.  But you could certainly have a bad streak of loses and money could go quickly.

The other thing I would recommend doing is ensuring your casino account isn't tied to your kids accounts.

Another unconfirmed theory is if the casino's algorithm notices a minor, it won't send them an offer. So if your account has the same email address as your kids, that could be enough to prevent offers from coming in.

I experienced this problem earlier this year when I was getting no offers at all. At the recommendation of another casino player, I asked the casino host to change my casino account email to different one.  That would leave me kids on my old email with Royal Caribbean, but separate me out from them.

Sure enough, a couple of cruises later (with a couple hundred points per sailing in the casino), and my mailbox has been flooded with offers.

To be clear, all of this is a working theory and I can't promise it will work for you. It just seems to represent the best conventional wisdom we have at the moment.

How to book a free cruise with the casino

The card you'll receive will have a list of free cruises. You can choose just one of them, per offer code.

To redeem it, you can do one of three things:

• Call Casino Royale directly and book
• Use Royal Caribbean's new Casino Royale website to redeem it
• Ask your travel agent to do it for you

Not all travel agents will redeem a free casino cruise because Royal Caribbean pays them barely any commission for a free cruise fare.

Calling in is what most people have traditionally done, but the hold times can be lengthy.

The new website appears to be a promising alternative, but it's brand new and a bit of a work in progress. Also, the website has shown offers that don't correlate to what the mailers have and that's been a source of frustration. I'm certain it will get ironed out, but in the meantime, the website may not be totally foolproof.

Don't abuse the offers

A word of warning: only redeem a free cruise offer you will actually go on.

Royal Caribbean changed their policy to penalize people that take advantage of free cruises, but then subsequently miss the cruise.

In past years, casino players would book free casino offers but then no-show to them. It wasn't intentional, but they viewed them as like "maybes" and since the cruise was free, there was no real penalty for missing it.

The cruise line has cracked down on this, and warns you'll lose your $200.00 deposit on the room.

Furthermore, you could be banned from getting free offers in the future if you do it.

Any Recipient who fails to check in at the pier may be suspended from future offers, will forfeit any offer(s) redeemed, and the remaining guests sailing, if any, will be subject to pay the prevailing rates at the time of embarkation.

Basically, if you book the free cruise, make sure you go on it.

One of the best deals in cruising right now is arguably Royal Caribbean's casino loyalty benefits, and it's getting even better.

Cruisers willing to gamble enough on their cruise to earn enough points to reach higher loyalty tiers have a new benefit that extends discounts to some of the cruise line's most popular add-ons.

An email newsletter sent to casino players mentions a new discount on pre-cruise purchases, with at least half off savings.

Here's what discounts you can expect, and how to get in on these deals.

Pre-cruise discounts

Royal Caribbean says between now and March 31, 2026, any cruiser with an elevated status is eligible for at least half off drink packages, beach clubs, and other popular add-ons.

You must be at least Prime status in Casino Royale in order to qualify, which means you've collected at least 2,500 points during the course of the casino year.

Here's how it breaks down:

In my experience, I've seen this discount applied previously, but it seemed more hit or miss.  With the announcement, it appears the discount is now codified and will be more consistently applied.

Royal Caribbean also runs similar sales and promotions that apply to top tier members within Crown and Anchor Society. 

As a Pinnacle Club member, I'll sometimes see my casino discount shown and other times a Diamond and above discount.

How much this could save you

You might be curious how lucrative this discount can actually be, so I decided to run a couple of tests.

As a Prime member, I found a couple of cruises where I had the discount applied to my account for an upcoming sailing.  I then compared the price to the logged out price for what a new cruiser without casino status could expect (using this hack).

Oasis of the Seas 7-night October 5, 2025 sailing

• Deluxe Beverage Package
  • Regular discount: 40% off - $68.99 per person, per day
  • Casino discount: 50% off - $56.99 per person, per day

Star of the Seas 7-night November 23, 2025

• Deluxe Beverage Package
  • Regular discount: Regular sale - $77.99 per person, per day
  • Casino discount: 50% off - $59.99 per person, per day

No casino discounts applied to Hideaway Beach, Coco Beach Club, or Thrill Waterpark admission

Utopia of the Seas 4-night January 9, 2026

• Deluxe Beverage Package
  • Regular discount: Regular sale - $83.99 per person, per day
  • Casino discount: 50% off - $59.99 per person, per day

No casino discounts applied to Hideaway Beach, Coco Beach Club, or Thrill Waterpark admission

I saw the same price and "Pre Cruise Savings" sale for the beach clubs and water park admission while logged in and logged out. It's possible the day pass discounts haven't been activated yet, or the current promotion is better than the casino offer.

Regardless, the drink package savings are real for the Deluxe Beverage Package with significant savings one each sailing I checked compared to someone without casino status looking to buy the same drink package.

How to get casino points

If getting loyalty status within the Royal Caribbean casino sounds like the perfect plan for you, here's what you need to know to reach Prime status.

Gambling is addictive, and you could end up losing a lot of money in the process of trying to earn a "free cruise". 

When you play in the casino, you earn points when you insert or tap your SeaPass card at a slot machine or hand it to a pit boss at a table game.

You can expect to earn roughly 1 point for every $5 wagered on a slot machine. Table games give much less points, so don't play table games if earning status is your goal. Video poker players earn 1 point for every $10 played. 

Earning Prime status means you'll need to accumulate at least 2,500 points throughout the Royal Caribbean casino year, which runs April 1 through March 31). 

Your points are combined between sailings during the casino calendar year.  So if you earned 500 points on an October cruise, and then another 500 points in December, you'd have a total of 1,000 points for the year. 

As soon as you reach 2,500 points before March 31, you earn that status for the rest of this cruise year and the full following year. 

Getting to Prime gets you more than just pre-cruise discounts

While the pre-cruise discounts are a nice benefit, the true value of Prime status comes in many other forms.

Prime members can enjoy unlimited drinks in the ship's casino bar. 

Prime members also are awarded a free 7-day cruise in an interior room. 

Whether you make Prime or not, you can also expect offers in the mail if your average play reaches a certain level. It's not known exactly what that level is, but random free cruise offers can sporadically be sent in your email and mailbox. 

It's now easier to track and manage your Royal Caribbean casino rewards, thanks to a website overhaul.

The new Casino Royale website is available to guests, which features a better integrated login, sleeker design, and makes managing offers easier.

The casino loyalty program is more popular than ever, but its website had been an old design that wasn't mobile device optimized and required guests to enter their Crown and Anchor Society number instead of their usual Royal Caribbean login credentials.

The new site has an easier to follow navigation, and works well on all devices.

It's also a step forward in the prominence of the cruise line's casino offerings.

Better design

About two weeks ago, emails went out to alert guests a new casino site was coming, and now it's here.

The new site promises to make it easier to track your offers and view your personalized dashboard of tier credit earnings conveniently in one location.

After logging in with the same credentials you would use to access the main Royal Caribbean site, you can link your casino account to other partner casino programs.

Royal Caribbean has loyalty matching with a few other casino programs, including Hard Rock Casino and MGM Casino.

The new site makes it easier to quickly see how many points you've accumulated, your status, and offers you may have waiting.

The offers, in particular, are the most useful feature since they are a way to redeem free cruises.

Players that gamble enough on a Royal Caribbean ship can earn complimentary future cruises to go on, based on either how much they wagered on a sailing or simply an instant offer.

You can now easily pick an offer to use, and then actually book the cruise through the website instead of having to call in to redeem it.

There is a list of sailings to choose from, and then a way to pick an individual booking.

The site takes users through the options of redeeming or applying the offer, and selecting which complimentary sailing they'd like to sail on.

The new site replaces not only an old site, but PDF documents that used to be the only way to track the options players had available.

How to earn a free cruise from the casino

If you want to earn complimentary casino cruise offers, here's what you need to know.

A reminder that gambling is very addictive and is not for everyone. Know your limits, and you could easily spend much more in gambling losses than what you could get on a cruise. There is definitely a bigger picture to consider.

The concept is simple: you can earn one point for every few dollars you wager (not wins or losses, just how much you play).  By far, you'll want to play slots (instead of table games) to earn points faster.

At the casino host desk, there is a sheet that lists how many points during that sailing you need to reach certain reward thresholds.

Depending on your sailing, the lowest milestone could be a few hundred points or closer to 1,000. The lowest tiers offer an inside stateroom for free and just pay taxes and port fees.

If you get more points, you can qualify for better cabins and/or more free play to go with it.

Casino Royale may add instant offers to your account, which are incentives to come back to cruise (and hopefully gamble). There's no rhyme or reason I've determined as to how these are offered.

In addition, if you can reach the Prime status within Casino Royale, then you can qualify for free annual cruise too.

A deepening casino integration

The new Casino Royale website coincides with Royal Caribbean's push into attracting more casino players.

A trend over the last few years has been to pursue and cater to more of its gamblers onboard.

Royal Caribbean has steadily been expanding its casinos on select ships, which has involved replacing public venues with new casino space.

On some Oasis Class ships, the Crown Lounge and Attic areas were replaced in order to make expand the casino.

On Freedom of the Seas, the wine bar was replaced with a non-smoking casino.

Not only are there more gambling areas on these ships, but they're non-smoking venues.

Royal Caribbean hasn't officially announced a change in policy to cater more to non-smoking gamblers, but it's my guess it has to do with maximizing onboard revenue as it does addressing a need passengers have been asking for.

We've all heard stories of cruisers lucky enough to earn free drinks and cruises just by gambling in the casino, but have you ever wondered what it took to walk off the ship with a complimentary cruise?

Chris Wong, a crew member who has worked with Royal Caribbean for over five years, recently broke down how the cruise line's Casino Royale rewards program works. 

In a video shared on Wong's popular YouTube channel, he gave viewers a behind-the-scenes look at his daily responsibilities as a Casino Host on Allure of the Seas. 

He also shared what players need to know about the Casino Royale program, from how to earn points to what promotions are available during the casino's operating hours and what kinds of perks serious gamblers can expect. 

The Casino Royale program rewards players based on how much they gamble

Royal Caribbean's casino rewards program, which is entirely separate from the Crown & Anchor Society, is comprised of four tiers: Choice, Prime, Signature, and Masters. 

Cruisers' Crown & Anchor Society status is determined by how many nights guests have spent on Royal Caribbean ships. However, Casino Royale status is based solely on how much a guest gambles in the casino within a calendar year, which runs from April 1 to March 31. In other words, status isn't lifetime and must be earned annually.

According to Wong, there aren't any worthwhile benefits for entry-level members in the Choice tier. 

As such, most players strive to reach Prime (2,500 points). The main perks are free drinks in the casino while playing, as well as a waived 5% convenience fee for table game buy-ins with SeaPass cards. Prime cruisers also get one complimentary cruise per year in an interior stateroom. 

The next tier, Signature, requires 25,000 points. Wong says that one of the best benefits of this status level is that cruisers get one free VOOM Wi-Fi package per sailing, regardless of length. 

Additionally, the annual complimentary cruise cabin category is upgraded to a balcony. 

Read more: I got a free cruise from Royal Caribbean's casino. It was the perfect price, but I wish I had a window

Finally, Masters is the highest tier within the Casino Royale program, reserved for players who earn 100,000 points or more.

This level unlocks the most exclusive perks, including a complimentary cruise in a Grand Suite, priority access to the terminal on embarkation day, two VOOM Wi-Fi packages, dinner in the Coastal Kitchen suite restaurant, and more. 

Earning points on slot machines is more straightforward than on table games. Every $5 on a slot machine earns one casino point. However, the points earned from table games are based on a combination of your average monetary spend and the time spent at the table. 

You can start earning casino points on embarkation day. It's smart because you can take advantage of the complimentary FreePlay loaded onto your SeaPass account. 

"For the first two days of the cruise, everyone who is 18 years and older has mystery FreePlay to use [at] the casino," Wong says. 

The amount varies from $2 to $100, and it's completely random. All you have to do is go into the casino on Day 1 or 2 and visit a slot machine. 

To load the FreePlay onto the slot machine, follow these instructions:

1. Tap or insert your SeaPass card at the slot machine. You'll know it's successfully linked when the blue light turns green.
2. Select "Account" then "Personal Banker."
3. Enter the default PIN (month and day of your birthday, MMDD).
4. Reset your PIN and press "Enter" to validate.
5. Press "Transfer," then "Transfer to Game."
6. Select "Transfer Points to FreePlay" (to play your Rewards Points) or "FreePlay" (to play your promotional FreePlay).
7. Press "Yes" to continue and complete your transaction.
8. Don't forget to collect your SeaPass and log out of your Casino Royale account before leaving the machine. 

Lucky players will receive Instant Rewards Certificates (IRCs) on the last day of the cruise

Whereas your status within the Casino Royale program is based on the points accumulated throughout the calendar year, IRCs are awarded based on the number of points earned during one specific sailing. 

Wong explains, "The Instant Rewards Certificate is based on solely what you earn for the specific cruise that you are on."

The first IRC award is available upon earning 400 points. You won't earn a free cruise, but you will get $100 off a future sailing. 

From there, the rewards only get better the more points you earn. Wong says that as players continue to accumulate points during the cruise, better IRC levels unlock, which offer greater discounts, fully comped cruises, and even casino FreePlay. 

For example, if you earn 4,000 points during a single voyage, you'll receive a free cruise in a balcony cabin (or ocean-view on select sailings) and $500 in casino FreePlay — if you book your next cruise while onboard. 

"For the last few years, Casino Royale and NextCruise have started a cross-promotion where they work together," Wong says. 

As such, the bonus rewards in the third column are only available to those who place a deposit for their next sailing before disembarking. 

There's another catch: there's a select list of voyages that are available for these offers — you can't just book any cruise that catches your eye. 

"You come onboard for your cruise; you play in the casino; [and] you earn points as you play. However many points you have by the end of the cruise, you will receive an instant reward certificate in your room for either a discount off a future cruise or a complimentary cruise. And the third and final option is to pay your $200 deposit with the NextCruise [department], and this will give you a bonus award," he summarizes.

IRCs are printed by the Casino Host (in this case, Wong) on the second-to-last day of the cruise. 

Using a program called "Super-PlayMate," he can access everyone's unique folio IDs and cabin numbers to help properly address the letters. 

Then, he has to print the IRCs for eligible cruisers to deliver them to the housekeeping team, who ensures they are placed in the correct cabin on the last day. 

The offer letter is pretty self-explanatory. First, it lists your name and Crown & Anchor loyalty number. Below that is your offer code, which is just the month and year it was issued, as well as what cabin category it's valid for. 

However, the award is better explained under the offer code. In Wong's example, the IRC is for an oceanview or balcony stateroom on select voyages. 

It's important to take note of the expiration date. Although you don't have to sail by that date, you must have another cruise booked before then.

"[In] my professional opinion, the company isn't very forgiving if you forget about your reward and it expires," Wong warns. 

If you can't find a sailing that works for you, you can trade in your IRC for a discount on a cruise of your choice. 

Again, in Wong's example, rather than booking a complimentary cruise (minus the taxes, port fees, and gratuities), he could get $750 off any voyage of his choosing. 

Read more: I earned a "free" cruise on Royal Caribbean's newest ship, and it saved me almost $9,000

Onboard casino promotions

It's important to check the Cruise Compass to see what daily promotions the casino is offering on your sailing. 

Wong explains a few of the common ones, including the nightly Snowball Raffle Draw, Hot Seat Promotion, and Bags of Cash. 

The Snowball Raffle Draw is offered every night on most Royal Caribbean cruises (Wong issues a disclaimer that actual promotions may vary based on the ship and sailing).

He says, "We give away $100 of FreePlay every night at 10:00pm. To qualify, everybody needs at least 100 casino points. We will use a random name generator to pick out everyone in the casino who has 100 points, and then it's going to spit out a name at random."

The Hot Seat Promotion runs from 11:00pm to midnight. Eligible active players in the casino (those with 100 points or more) are automatically entered to win anywhere from $50 to $150 in FreePlay. 

The drawings are every 15 minutes, with the prize money increasing $15 each round. 

Finally, the Bags of Cash promotion calls on three random players (again, with a minimum of 100 casino points) to select a mystery box containing a surprise amount of FreePlay. On the night Wong recorded the promo, the three cruisers won $50, $150, and $250. 

It's becoming easier to enjoy the benefits of a Royal Caribbean cruise and a land casino.

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises have strengthened their casino loyalty partnership, which means it's easier to earn points on a ship or at a land casino.

A first reported by TheStreet, players who gamble in the onboard casinos can now earn MGM Rewards Points, tier credits, and slot dollars — not just cruise line benefits.

To take advantage, players must use their SeaPass card while gambling onboard. The points they earn in the Club Royale (Royal Caribbean) or Blue Chip Club (Celebrity) programs now count toward MGM’s rewards program too.

"Extending the opportunity to earn onboard is a true game changer for our members," Anil Mansukhani, vice president of loyalty marketing, said in a statement. 

"We're always looking to raise the stakes for our best-in-class program, and the ability for our members to earn MGM Rewards on gaming spend when vacationing at sea maximizes every dollar spent."

These changes are part of the cruise line's casino loyalty program. Royal Caribbean also offers benefits with MGM to its Crown and Anchor Society members.

Crown & Anchor Society members can take advantage of a status matching program, entitling them to MGM Rewards benefits even if it’s their first time staying at an MGM Rewards property.

A longstanding partnership with MGM

Royal Caribbean's partnership with MGM Casinos is one of many steps the two companies have taken to offer linked benefits.

The first partnership began in 2012, but it's steadily grown over the years.

MGM’s loyalty program has been upgraded across all tiers. Gold-level members, for example, now get an annual cruise benefit — a 5-night oceanview stateroom or a $750 cruise credit — a perk that didn’t exist before. Platinum members now get a 7-night balcony cruise or a $1,500 credit, an upgrade from the previous 5-night deal.

MGM isn’t the only land-based casino group working with the cruise lines. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity also have a partnership with Hard Rock International through its Unity loyalty program. Players in certain tiers, like the X card level, can qualify for cruise discounts or even certificates valued up to $2,500. Some tiers receive invite-only offers for complimentary cruises.

Both partnerships are about attracting casino players from the land casinos to try a cruise, as well as the other way around.

Deepening casino push

One trend Royal Caribbean has been pursuing over the last few years has been catering more and more to its gamblers onboard.

Not only has the cruise line expanded partnerships, they've invested more space and money on casinos.

On select ships, the casino footprint has been expanded to grow the size of gambling spaces and offer more areas for non-smokers.

On some Oasis Class ships, the Crown Lounge and Attic venue have been replaced in order to make expand the casino.

On Freedom of the Seas, the wine bar was replaced with a non-smoking casino.

Gambling is big business on cruises

Casino gaming is a major moneymaker for Royal Caribbean, and it's only getting bigger.

The cruise line doesn’t break out casino earnings on their own, but they are rolled into what's known as “onboard and other” revenue. That bucket includes everything passengers pay for beyond the base cruise fare: drink packages, shore excursions, Wi-Fi, and yes — gambling.

In the second quarter of this year, Royal Caribbean Group reported $183 million in “onboard and other” revenue across all its brands. That’s up $14 million from the same time last year.

Frequent cruisers have noticed the trend too. Many are seeing more aggressive offers from the casino, including discounted and even free cruise certificates, aimed at keeping players coming back.

If you have the means and control, one of the best deals in cruising right now is through Royal Caribbean's casino program.

Ever since I discovered how lucrative the offers can be to essentially earn free cruises by doing the thing I'd already be doing in the ship's casino, I've been taking advantage of offers coming through Casino Royale.

My luck in the casino is up and down over the course of the year, and your results may differ from mine. Please gamble responsibly.

Just like a land casino, Royal Caribbean's casino operation is big business.  They offer complimentary cruises if you gamble enough to reach certain point thresholds.

You really don't need to be a big gambler in order to benefit, and a recent change the casino program made just saved me more than any jackpot I've ever won from a slot machine.

The basics of a casino comp

There are a few ways to get a "free cruise" by gambling in Royal Caribbean's casino, but I'm going to focus on the annual free cruise you get from reaching the Prime level within the casino loyalty program.

Just like Crown and Anchor Society, Royal Caribbean's casino has its own loyalty program. However, it differs in that your status is based on how many points you earn over the course of one year.  

You'll earn 1 point for every $5 wagered on a slot machine, and if you get to 2,500 points in a gaming year, you'll get the choice of a free interior room on a cruise up to seven nights in length.

The beauty of this free cruise offer is you can earn it over the course of a year. You might earn 500 points on one sailing, 1000 on another, and so on.  You can earn it in one sailing or over multiple, and then stop and enjoy that perk later.

Plus, as a Prime member you get free drinks in the casino.

The catch with this annual cruise offer is it's only available to book the following year, and you must use and sail it within that year. Plus, there's an exclusion list.

Each year certain dates and ships are excluded, because they're too in demand.  This means no holiday cruises and no sailings on brand new ships.

Star of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's next new ship was, as expected, on the exclusion list.

A change in the exclusion list

As I contemplated which cruise to use my free sailing offer, Royal Caribbean made a change.

Royal Caribbean message board users shared suddenly there were Star of the Seas and Icon of the Seas sailings showing up as available after previously being excluded.

"In case anyone has not booked their annual, Star is no longer excluded and there are open dates in January-March!" wrote Chart.

A brand new ship like Star of the Seas would command a premium price, and I looked into if I could take advantage of it.

Almost $9,000 in savings

I was already booked for a 7-night spring break cruise on Star of the Seas with my family in connecting ocean balcony cabins.

I booked it when the ship opened up bookings, and got two rooms for my family.  Splitting up and getting two rooms instead of one is one of my favorite cruise hacks.

The price for each room was $7095.08, including taxes, fees, port expenses, and gratuities. That's a total of $14,190.16 for both cabins.

I alerted my MEI-Travel agent to what I had seen online and asked her if we could cancel what I had booked and re-book it with my casino certificate.

She found the reports were true, and I would be able to use my certificate for one room and my wife's certificate for the other room.

We'd get the interior cabin for "free", and the cost to upgrade to connecting ocean view balcony would be $2338.34 + gratuities per room. With fees and gratuities, it came out to $2597.34 per cabin.

After some work with the cruise line, my travel agent was able to get me rebooked with the casino offer, plus the difference in upgrading the cabin back up to an ocean balcony.

I went from a $14,190.16 bill to a $5,194.68 bill, saving me $8,995.48.

Big savings, but it's still gambling

I wanted to share my experience as an example of how lucrative Royal Caribbean's casino program can be, provided you're willing to play responsibly.

To be fair, I don't have an accurate accounting of my losses in the 2024-2025 casino year to properly evaluate how much money I lost to get my 2,500 points and reach Prime status.

Of course, I also enjoyed other benefits of being a Prime member, such as complimentary drinks in the casino throughout that time and even this year too.

Gambling is addictive and inherently risky, but if you can play smart, you could net some big savings well beyond the casino floor.

MGM Rewards, MGM Resorts' loyalty program, is launching enhanced benefits with Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises. 

MGM and Royal Caribbean have had a longstanding loyalty match. If you're an Emerald, Diamond, Diamond Plus, or Pinnacle Club cruiser within the Crown & Anchor Society, you're eligible to be matched to MGM Rewards' Gold Tier. 

In addition to Sapphire and Pearl Tier benefits, Gold members receive access to an expedited reservations line, tier appreciation events, VIP line access to select nightclubs in Las Vegas, a waived resort fee when booking direct, complimentary valet parking at participating locations, and an enhanced room upon check-in. 

The 2025 upgrades take it one step further for MGM Rewards members looking to hit the high seas with Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruises. 

Read more: Loyalty Perks Beyond the Cruise: Using Crown & Anchor Society Rewards on Land

Onboard FreePlay

Now, all MGM Rewards members will receive a new Onboard FreePlay benefit when sailing on any MGM Rewards loyalty offer, certificate offer, or group cruise. 

The amount received is based on the member's MGM tier status. For example, entry-level Sapphire members will receive $25, while top-tier NOIR members will receive $200 in Onboard Freeplay:

• Sapphire ($25)
• Pearl ($50)
• Gold ($75)
• Platinum ($100)
• NOIR ($200)

Read more: Royal Caribbean is adding a new casino to one of its ships in an unusual spot that non-smokers will love

This benefit isn't replacing the existing onboard credit offer for Gold, Platinum, and NOIR members. Instead, it’s an additional perk that will enhance the overall cruise experience and, arguably, encourage more time spent in the ship's casino. 

The onboard credit perk is based on the member's MGM Rewards tier status and can be spent on add-ons like specialty dining, drink packages, shore excursions, and Wi-Fi:

• Gold ($125)
• Platinum ($200)
• NOIR ($300)

Note that these benefits aren't available to Crown & Anchor Society cruisers who matched into MGM Rewards, as the perks are available only to persons who earned the minimum Tier Credits associated with each level, or who were invited to the NOIR Tier Level during the Tier Status Earning Year based on spending. 

Read more: I gamble a lot on Royal Caribbean ships to earn free cruises. Here are my 10 hacks to maximize the cruise casino perks

Annual Cruise Benefit

What's a good way to encourage cruisers to visit the casino? By gifting them a free cruise, of course! As part of MGM Rewards' 2025 enhancements, more members have the chance to earn a free cruise.

Not only that, but qualifying members can enjoy upgraded staterooms, access to better itineraries, and more onboard benefits. Gold Tier members are also eligible for the benefit for the first time, and based on the tier, members can receive a set trade-in value:

• Gold: Oceanview cabin on an eligible voyage of up to five nights (or up to $750 toward a cruise of their choice)
• Platinum: Balcony cabin on an eligible voyage of up to seven nights (or up to $1,500 toward a cruise of their choice)
• NOIR: Junior Suite on an eligible voyage of up to ten nights (or up to $3,000 toward a cruise of their choice)

MGM Rewards members who have already redeemed their annual cruise can enjoy the upgraded perks by calling Royal Caribbean at 800-762-0702 or Celebrity at 855-227-2537. Have your booking number handy!

In addition to the annual cruise benefit, MGM Rewards launched exclusive stateroom savings on additional cruises:

• Pearl (5%)
• Gold (10%)
• Platinum (10%)
• NOIR (10%)

Read more: Royal Caribbean rolls the dice on a new casino to address a problem cruise passengers hated for years

New land perks

Not ready to commit to an ocean voyage or planning your pre-cruise stay? Through MGM's enhancements, loyalty members can match their status to Marriott Bonvoy:

• Pearl: Marriott Silver Elite status
• Gold: Marriott Gold Elite status
• Platinum: Marriott Gold Elite status (existing benefit)
• NOIR: Marriott Ambassador Elite status (existing benefit)

MGM is also selling e-gift cards at a discount, allowing guests the chance to save on their upcoming travels. All MGM members who purchase e-gift cards valued at $300 or more by March 28 will receive 5% off. 

Royal Caribbean has made it easier than ever to prove your casino losses to the IRS, but it's also a sobering reminder for some cruisers.

Casinos on cruise ships are required to report significant winnings to the IRS, which has an impact on income taxes.

In practical terms, that means a situation when you get a slot machine jackpot or a video poker machine payout worth $1,200 or more. When that happens, the casino staff pays you cash on the spot for your winnings and you fill out a form that goes back to the IRS, assuming you're an American citizen.

Of course, you're supposed to technically report all casino winnings to the government, and deduct all loses. In practice, most people don't track their losses in such a manner until they run into a jackpot.

There's a catch: if you can prove you lost more money than you won in the casino, it can help offset those gains on your taxes.

To make that easier, Royal Caribbean made a change this year to get those gambling records much faster.

Royal Caribbean tracks your play when you use your SeaPass card, which offers possibly significant rewards if you gamble enough.

The tracking they do also allows them to provide casino players with year-end win/loss statements.

As of January 31, 2025, Royal Caribbean guests can download win/loss statements from 2020 to 2024.

You can view your own win/loss statement by going to the Casino Royale website.

Royal Caribbean warns, "Please note that this is not an official tax form."

Cruisers surprised by the numbers

Almost immediately after the 2024 reports became available, people started sharing their results, with a combination of both shock and awe.

For many, it was a surprise in how much or little they lost.  Many cruisers were in disbelief at the number provided versus their expectations.

Reddit user btm24 shared a copy of their report, indicating they lost $14,673.22 over the course of the year in the casino.

According to this person, Royal Caribbean's report was "within 20% from my figures."

For that loss, they were able to get 11 "comped" cruises (48 total nights) for the year.  That means btm24 received offers from Royal Caribbean to sail for free on select cruises 11 times.  All they had to pay was taxes and fees.

According to btm24, depending on the exact offer from the casino, what's included differs.  They claim most of the time the offers were for ocean view balcony’s for two people at no cost.

The free sailings are one of the most lucrative benefits of gambling on a Royal Caribbean ship. 

As an example, btm24 reached the Prime level within Casino Royale's loyalty program.

"Every time we sail it’s like cutting off the head of [the] hydra, we get two sailing offers on top of our monthly offers, hear offers etc. It’s inane how decent the comp system is."

In their opinion, the rewards make up for the losses, "100% this is loss not win for me. But I enjoyed it and came in under budget so it all works out."

How much you have to gamble to start getting comp cruise offers?

If you're reading this and ready to start earning "free" cruises from the casino, there's a bit of a learning curve to understanding exactly how it all works.

The simplest strategy is to gamble enough on one sailing to earn enough points to qualify for instant certificates that you can redeem for a sailing.

Basically, you get 1 point for every $5 you wager (not win or lose, just wager) and if you get 400, 600, 1200, 2500, et al points, you can get turn around and book a cruise offer based on the list of sailings at each point threshold.

So yes, to earn 600 points, you'd have to roughly wager $3,000 in one sailing.

You can view the list of cruise tiers online with a clever hack, or wait until you get on the ship and then see the list at the casino host's desk.

While this strategy is easy to accomplish, it requires you to spend enough to get enough points to qualify for a sailing.

What most people want to know is how to get offered a free sailing from Royal Caribbean's casino simply for having gambled on past sailings.

It's important to note no one knows exactly how the truly free comp offers are given out.

At the very least, you need to have gambled some in a casino on a Royal Caribbean ship at some point in the past.

No one really knows exactly how many points and even if you gamble a lot, the rhyme or reason as to why one person gets a casino cruise comp offer and not someone else is elusive.

AB3reddit posted, "Low roller here. I have never made Prime and don’t think I’ve ever made more than 500 points in a single year, but for some reason they do offer me a wealth of the “monthly” free and BOGO cruise offers (mostly just Inside and Inside Guaranty cabins)."