Cruise Casino Programs Compared: Comps, Free Cruises and Matches
Cruise casino programs turn your play into free or discounted cruises, but "free" means the fare only. Royal Caribbean's Club Royale gives an annual interior cruise at the Prime tier, 2,500 points earned within one April to March program year, which at 1 point per $5 on slots is $12,500 of coin-in (total bets, not losses). Virgin Voyages starts its annual cabin offer at 5,000 points in a year, or $25,000.
Taxes, port fees and the line's own fees stay with you: Carnival's FEL free-cabin offer listed up to $411 in cruise fees and up to $175.99 in taxes, plus a deposit. Below we compare eight programs on earning rates, tiers, comp terms and casino matches.
By the CruiseLookup editorial team. We reviewed the official casino program pages, offer terms and match pages of Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Carnival, Princess, Holland America, Norwegian, MSC and Virgin Voyages, then ran the coin-in calculations shown below. Figures found only in cruise press are labelled as such. Updated .
Eight cruise casino programs side by side
Earning rates are the official published rates for reel slots and video poker. No line publishes a fixed rate for table games: Celebrity, Carnival, Holland America, NCL and Virgin say table points depend on the game, your average bet and how long you play. Promotional play and FreePlay earn no tier credit at Royal Caribbean and Celebrity.
- Slots
- 1 pt per $5
- Video poker
- 1 pt per $15
- Tiers:
- Choice 1, Prime 2,500, Signature 25,000, Masters 100,000 tier credits
- Program year:
- Apr 1 to Mar 31
- Headline reward:
- Annual cruise from Prime: interior (Prime), balcony (Signature), Grand Suite (Masters), up to 7 nights, taxes and fees extra. Book and sail by Mar 31, 2027.
- Slots
- 1 pt per $5
- Video poker
- 1 pt per $15
- Tiers:
- Pearl 1, Onyx 500, Amethyst 5,000, Sapphire 15,000, Sapphire Plus 75,000, Ruby 150,000 tier credits
- Program year:
- Aug 1 to Jul 31
- Headline reward:
- Annual Cruise Benefit from Amethyst: Inside (Amethyst), Veranda (Sapphire), Concierge Class (Sapphire Plus), AquaClass (Ruby). Pay only taxes and fees. Book and sail by Jul 31, 2027.
- Slots
- 1 pt per $2
- Video poker
- 1 pt per $5
- Tiers:
- Current thresholds not published
- Program year:
- Not published
- Headline reward:
- Discounted or free rooms, Drinks On Us while playing. Each casino point earns 1 Carnival Rewards Star.
- Slots
- Not published
- Video poker
- Not published
- Tiers:
- VIP invitation tiers: Special Events, Hearts, Ultimate, Prestige, Diamonds. Thresholds not published
- Program year:
- Not published
- Headline reward:
- Future discounts, comp cruises and VIP events. Enrolment is automatic when you play with your OceanMedallion.
- Slots
- 1 pt per $2
- Video poker
- 1 pt per $5
- Tiers:
- VIP levels include Ultimate Games and Prestige. Thresholds not published
- Program year:
- Not published
- Headline reward:
- Free Play, drinks, spa treatments and wine with dinner by points; private offers up to free staterooms.
- Slots
- 1 pt per $5
- Video poker
- 1 pt per $10
- Tiers:
- Pearl 4,000, Sapphire 15,000, Ruby 35,000, Elite 100,000
- Program year:
- Apr 1 to Mar 31
- Headline reward:
- Onboard credit from $75 (Pearl) to $1,000 (Elite); Casino Cruise Certificates for the player plus one guest.
- Slots
- Not published
- Video poker
- Not published
- Tiers:
- No casino tiers published
- Program year:
- Not published
- Headline reward:
- Slot players earn Dream Points with their ship card. Wynn Rewards partnership since Feb 18, 2026.
- Slots
- 1 pt per $5
- Video poker
- 1 pt per $10
- Tiers:
- Showstopper 0, Star 5,000, Superstar 15,000, Idol 35,000, Legend 75,000
- Program year:
- May 1 to Apr 30
- Headline reward:
- Annual cabin offer from Star; $100 to $300 free play per voyage from Superstar.
| Program | Slots | Video poker | Tier thresholds (points) | Program year | Headline reward |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club Royale Royal Caribbean | 1 pt per $5 | 1 pt per $15 | Choice 1, Prime 2,500, Signature 25,000, Masters 100,000 tier credits | Apr 1 to Mar 31 | Annual cruise from Prime: interior (Prime), balcony (Signature), Grand Suite (Masters), up to 7 nights, taxes and fees extra. Book and sail by Mar 31, 2027. |
| Blue Chip Club Celebrity | 1 pt per $5 | 1 pt per $15 | Pearl 1, Onyx 500, Amethyst 5,000, Sapphire 15,000, Sapphire Plus 75,000, Ruby 150,000 tier credits | Aug 1 to Jul 31 | Annual Cruise Benefit from Amethyst: Inside (Amethyst), Veranda (Sapphire), Concierge Class (Sapphire Plus), AquaClass (Ruby). Pay only taxes and fees. Book and sail by Jul 31, 2027. |
| Carnival Players Club Carnival | 1 pt per $2 | 1 pt per $5 | Current thresholds not published | Not published | Discounted or free rooms, Drinks On Us while playing. Each casino point earns 1 Carnival Rewards Star. |
| Players Advantage Princess | Not published | Not published | VIP invitation tiers: Special Events, Hearts, Ultimate, Prestige, Diamonds. Thresholds not published | Not published | Future discounts, comp cruises and VIP events. Enrolment is automatic when you play with your OceanMedallion. |
| Holland America Players Club Holland America | 1 pt per $2 | 1 pt per $5 | VIP levels include Ultimate Games and Prestige. Thresholds not published | Not published | Free Play, drinks, spa treatments and wine with dinner by points; private offers up to free staterooms. |
| Casinos At Sea NCL, Oceania, Regent | 1 pt per $5 | 1 pt per $10 | Pearl 4,000, Sapphire 15,000, Ruby 35,000, Elite 100,000 | Apr 1 to Mar 31 | Onboard credit from $75 (Pearl) to $1,000 (Elite); Casino Cruise Certificates for the player plus one guest. |
| MSC casino (Dream Points) MSC | Not published | Not published | No casino tiers published | Not published | Slot players earn Dream Points with their ship card. Wynn Rewards partnership since Feb 18, 2026. |
| Sea Rollers Rewards Virgin Voyages | 1 pt per $5 | 1 pt per $10 | Showstopper 0, Star 5,000, Superstar 15,000, Idol 35,000, Legend 75,000 | May 1 to Apr 30 | Annual cabin offer from Star; $100 to $300 free play per voyage from Superstar. |
Sources: Royal Caribbean Club Royale tiers, Club Royale FAQ, Club Royale rewards, Celebrity Blue Chip Club, Blue Chip benefits grid (image), Celebrity casino FAQ, Carnival Players Club, Carnival Rewards launch release, Princess casino, Holland America Casino Action, NCL Casinos At Sea, MSC casino, MSC Wynn Rewards release, Virgin Voyages Sea Rollers.
How much you have to play to reach a cruise tier
Coin-in is the total amount you wager, not the money you lose. Every bet counts, including winnings you put back in. Start with $100, bet $1 a spin for 500 spins, and you have $500 of coin-in even though you only brought $100. Points are earned on that $500. How much of it you lose depends on the machine's payback, which the cruise lines do not publish. Over thousands of dollars of coin-in, even a small house edge adds up to a real loss.
The table converts each line's threshold for its first cruise-earning tier into coin-in. Each threshold has to be earned within a single program year. The formula is the points threshold multiplied by the dollars wagered per point.
- Slots ($5/pt)
- $12,500
- Video poker ($15/pt)
- $37,500
Annual interior cruise
- Slots ($5/pt)
- $25,000
- Video poker ($10/pt)
- $50,000
Annual cabin offer
- Slots ($5/pt)
- $25,000
- Video poker ($15/pt)
- $75,000
Annual Cruise Benefit in an Inside cabin
- Slots ($5/pt)
- $20,000
- Video poker ($10/pt)
- $40,000
$75 onboard credit. No tier is officially tied to a cruise.
- Slots ($2/pt)
- $20,000
- Video poker ($5/pt)
- $50,000
Carnival Rewards Gold loyalty status, not a casino comp
| Program and tier | Points | Slot coin-in | Video poker coin-in | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean Club Royale Prime | 2,500 | $12,500 2,500 x $5 | $37,500 2,500 x $15 | Annual interior cruise |
| Virgin Voyages Sea Rollers Star | 5,000 | $25,000 5,000 x $5 | $50,000 5,000 x $10 | Annual cabin offer |
| Celebrity Blue Chip Club Amethyst | 5,000 | $25,000 5,000 x $5 | $75,000 5,000 x $15 | Annual Cruise Benefit in an Inside cabin |
| NCL Casinos At Sea Pearl | 4,000 | $20,000 4,000 x $5 | $40,000 4,000 x $10 | $75 onboard credit. No tier is officially tied to a cruise. |
| Carnival Rewards via casino play Gold (10,000 Stars) | 10,000 | $20,000 10,000 x $2 | $50,000 10,000 x $5 | Carnival Rewards Gold loyalty status, not a casino comp |
Carnival is different. Carnival does not publish casino tier thresholds, but casino points now feed Carnival Rewards. Gold needs 10,000 Stars in a qualifying window (the first runs September 1, 2026 to December 31, 2028), and each casino point earns 1 Star even if you spend it on Funplay. From casino play alone, that is 10,000 x $2 = $20,000 of slot coin-in. Eligible Carnival purchases earn Stars too, at 3 per $1, so a player who also cruises regularly needs less casino play. See our Carnival Rewards guide.
Not calculable: Princess publishes no earning rate or thresholds. Carnival Players Club and Holland America publish earning rates but no tier thresholds. MSC publishes neither. NCL publishes tiers, but the points needed for a Casino Cruise Certificate are not published, so Pearl is shown as the first tier rather than a cruise tier.
Slot coin-in for every published tier
| Tier | Points | Slot coin-in |
|---|---|---|
| Prime | 2,500 | $12,500 |
| Signature | 25,000 | $125,000 |
| Masters | 100,000 | $500,000 |
| Tier | Points | Slot coin-in |
|---|---|---|
| Pearl | 4,000 | $20,000 |
| Sapphire | 15,000 | $75,000 |
| Ruby | 35,000 | $175,000 |
| Elite | 100,000 | $500,000 |
| Tier | Points | Slot coin-in |
|---|---|---|
| Star | 5,000 | $25,000 |
| Superstar | 15,000 | $75,000 |
| Idol | 35,000 | $175,000 |
| Legend | 75,000 | $375,000 |
| Tier | Points | Slot coin-in |
|---|---|---|
| Onyx | 500 | $2,500 |
| Amethyst | 5,000 | $25,000 |
| Sapphire | 15,000 | $75,000 |
| Sapphire Plus | 75,000 | $375,000 |
| Ruby | 150,000 | $750,000 |
Sources: Club Royale tiers, Club Royale FAQ, NCL Casinos At Sea, Virgin Sea Rollers, Celebrity Blue Chip Club, Blue Chip benefits grid (image), Carnival Players Club, Carnival Rewards launch release. All coin-in figures are CruiseLookup calculations.
How free casino cruises work
A casino cruise offer covers the cruise fare, usually for two guests in one cabin priced at double occupancy. Everything else stays on your bill. Here is what the official terms say you still pay.
Official example: Carnival offer code FEL
- Free interior room for guests 1 and 2. Guests 3 to 5 pay the prevailing fare, and rooms may be guarantee rooms.
- The guest pays Required Cruise Fees & Expenses of up to $411 and Government Taxes & Fees of up to $175.99. The terms do not say whether these caps are per person or per cabin.
- A non-refundable deposit from $50 per person, so at least $100 for two (CruiseLookup calculation).
- Onboard credit from $50 per person, up to $200 per cabin, depending on sailing length. Free drinks while actively playing, for the member and one companion.
- The named member must sail. Maximum of 3 sailings, capacity-controlled, not combinable, not valid on Carnival Australia cruises. The offer had a book-by date of November 3, 2025.
- Casino drinks are restricted on embarkation day in some states, such as Texas and New York.
Fees, line by line
- NCL, Oceania and Regent: a Casino Cruise Certificate covers the fare for the named player plus one guest. You pay an admin fee of $20 per person per day, government taxes and port fees, a possible fuel supplement, and service charges added to your onboard account. For two guests over 7 charged days, the admin fee alone is $20 x 2 x 7 = $280 (CruiseLookup calculation), before taxes, port fees, service charges and any fuel supplement.
- Royal Caribbean: the annual tier cruise is limited to one per year, on select ships and sailings of up to 7 nights at double occupancy, with taxes and fees payable. Cruise press (Casino.org, December 2024) reported that many targeted comps since then cover only the player, with the companion paying a discounted fare.
- Celebrity: the Annual Cruise Benefit means you pay only taxes and fees, one per year, at double occupancy.
- Holland America: private offers exclude taxes, fees and the deposit.
- Virgin Voyages: offers cover the voyage fare only. Taxes, fuel surcharges, upgrades and transfers are excluded, and you can upgrade by paying the difference. A $200 casino-play deposit is non-refundable if you cancel within 30 days.
Guest restrictions
- The named player must be on board. NCL charges full fare if the player or a Casinos At Sea member is not.
- Offers are non-transferable at NCL, Virgin and Royal Caribbean, and have no cash value at NCL and Virgin.
- Virgin limits offers to one stateroom per household per voyage, new bookings on Lady Ships only, ages 21 and over.
- Ruby members at Celebrity can add up to 2 additional staterooms to tier offers.
Deadlines and blackouts
- Royal Caribbean Instant Cruise Rewards certificates are valid for 30 days after the cruise ends.
- Celebrity's Annual Cruise Benefit must be booked and sailed by July 31, 2027 (US page).
- NCL may apply holiday and peak blackouts, and cancelling within 120 days of sailing may forfeit the certificate.
- Holland America Match offers must be booked within 60 days.
- Royal Caribbean's annual cruise must be booked and sailed by March 31, 2027, on select ships and sailings. Cruise press reports that for 2026 to 2027 it switched to a published list of eligible sailings.
Sources: Carnival FEL offer terms, NCL Casino Cruise Certificate terms, NCL Certificate Program (CA), NCL cruise certificate, Club Royale rewards, Royal Caribbean SeaPass rewards guide, Celebrity Blue Chip Club, Holland America Casino Action, Holland America Match, Virgin Sea Rollers. Press: Casino.org (December 2, 2024); Cruise Mummy (August 21, 2026).
Press links: Casino.org on Club Royale comps, Cruise Mummy on 2026 Club Royale changes.
Club Royale and Blue Chip Club
Club Royale earns 1 tier credit per $5 on reel slots and 1 per $15 on video poker. The program year runs April 1 to March 31. Tiers are Choice (1 to 2,499), Prime (2,500 to 24,999), Signature (25,000 to 99,999) and Masters (100,000+). Prime and above get an annual cruise: interior for Prime, balcony for Signature and a Grand Suite for Masters, on select sailings of up to 7 nights, booked and sailed by March 31, 2027. Signature gets onboard credit of $25, $50 or $75 and Masters $50, $75 or $100, for sailings of 3 to 4, 5 to 6 and 7 or more nights. Jewelry credit runs from $200 (Choice) to $550 (Masters). Reward Points, which are separate from tier credits, can be downloaded as FreePlay; you need at least 10,000 to convert them to onboard credit, and they expire at the end of each sailing.
Blue Chip Club uses the same $5 slot and $15 video poker rates, but its year runs August 1 to July 31. Celebrity's official benefits grid gives the Annual Cruise Benefit from Amethyst (5,000 tier credits, or $25,000 of slot coin-in): an Inside cabin for Amethyst, Veranda for Sapphire, Concierge Class for Sapphire Plus and AquaClass for Ruby. Tier status is set on August 1 from the previous year's credits. Sapphire Plus gets onboard credit of $25 to $75 and Ruby $50 to $100 by cruise length. Reward Points convert to folio credit at a minimum of 10,000 and expire at the end of each voyage. Texas Hold'em, Keymaster, Cash Crane and coin pushers earn nothing.
The two clubs share a parent company but not status: both lines state that the programs do not offer reciprocal benefits or status. For tier perks, offer types and the 2026 changes in detail, see our Club Royale guide.
Sources: Club Royale FAQ, Club Royale tiers, Club Royale rewards, Royal Caribbean SeaPass rewards guide, Celebrity Blue Chip Club, Blue Chip benefits grid (image), Blue Chip terms, Celebrity casino FAQ.
The Carnival Corporation casino clubs
Ocean Players Club describes itself as Carnival Corporation's global casino rewards program, but each line runs its own club and no official source shows casino points or tiers moving between brands.
Carnival Players Club earns 1 Casino Point per $2 of slot coin-in and 1 per $5 on video poker. Perks include discounted or free rooms (excluding taxes, fees, port expenses and deposit), "Drinks On Us" while playing, tournaments and casino event cruises such as Premier, Ultra (a chance at $100K), Elite, Treasure Chest Voyages and SEA adults-only sailings. Carnival does not publish current tier thresholds.
Princess Players Advantage enrolls you automatically when you play with your OceanMedallion. Rewards include future discounts, comp cruises and VIP events, with invitation tiers called Special Events, Hearts, Ultimate, Prestige and Diamonds (Diamonds is by annual invitation only). Princess does not publish an earning rate.
Holland America Players Club matches Carnival's rates: 1 point per $2 on slots and 1 per $5 on video poker. Points earn Free Play, drinks, spa treatments and wine with dinner. Ultimate Games offers a chance at $25K in Free Play and prizes; Prestige adds free drinks in all bars and restaurants and a complimentary select shore excursion. You can look up offers on 1-800-207-3549.
Sources: Ocean Players Club, Carnival Players Club, Princess casino, Holland America Casino Action.
Casinos At Sea covers three brands
Norwegian, Oceania and Regent share one casino program. It earns 1 point per $5 on reel and video slots and 1 per $10 on video poker. The tier year runs April 1 to March 31, with points resetting at 12 AM EST on April 1, and unredeemed points expire after 18 months. Bonus points, adjusted points and points transferred between ships do not count toward tier.
- Pearl (4,000): $75 non-refundable onboard credit on NCL; redeem points to your folio.
- Sapphire (15,000): $200 onboard credit, convenience fee waived up to $600, 120 internet minutes.
- Ruby (35,000): $400 onboard credit, fee waived up to $1,000, unlimited Wi-Fi on 1 device, cash-advance fees waived up to $650.
- Elite (100,000): $1,000 onboard credit, fee waived up to $1,500, unlimited Wi-Fi on 2 devices, cash-advance fees waived up to $1,000.
Members must be 21 or older, and tier benefits apply on sailings of 3 days or more. NCL also lists perks such as an open bar, a $500 shore-excursion credit and waived service charges without saying which tier gets them.
Sources: NCL Casinos At Sea Players Club, NCL casino cruise Players Club, Casino Cruise Certificate terms.
MSC publishes little; Virgin publishes its full tier table
MSC: the official US casino page says only that slot players earn "Dream Points" by inserting their ship card. MSC publishes no casino tiers, thresholds, certificate chart or offer terms, so any figures you see elsewhere come from third parties. What is official: since February 18, 2026, MSC has been the exclusive cruise partner of Wynn Rewards, giving Wynn members annual cruise benefits by tier, including complimentary staterooms and, at the top tier, Yacht Club access.
Virgin Voyages Sea Rollers earns 1 point per $5 on slots and 1 per $10 on video poker over a May 1 to April 30 year, and the tier you earn is held for the following 12 months. Star (5,000) brings casino offers, free casino drinks while playing and an annual cabin offer; Superstar (15,000), Idol (35,000) and Legend (75,000) add $100, $200 and $300 of free play per voyage. Offers are booked only by phone (954-372-7212) or email.
Sources: MSC casino, MSC Wynn Rewards release, Virgin Sea Rollers.
Which lines match your casino status
Four lines publish casino match programs. Three are Carnival Corporation lines, each run separately, open to residents of the 50 US states and DC aged 21 or over. The fourth is Royal Caribbean's Rewards Match, which also takes Canadian residents but only players who have not sailed with Royal Caribbean in the 24 months before applying. Each covers the fare for guests 1 and 2 only.
- You submit:
- Up to 3 loyalty cards from other casinos
- You still pay:
- $100 non-refundable deposit per person; Required Cruise Fees & Expenses up to $411 and Government Taxes & Fees up to $175.99 (basis not stated)
- Limits:
- US residents (50 states and DC), 21+. Reply in about 7 business days; no deal guaranteed. $100 onboard credit per person, up to $200 per cabin. Runs to at least Dec 31, 2026.
- You submit:
- Your best offer from another cruise line or land casino
- You still pay:
- $200 non-refundable deposit per guest; taxes, fees and port expenses of $63.14 to $427.64
- Limits:
- Carnival Cruise Line offers excluded. US residents, 21+. Reply in about 7 business days. $200 onboard credit per person, up to $400 per stateroom. Runs to at least Dec 31, 2026.
- You submit:
- Your tier at other land or sea casinos
- You still pay:
- Deposit plus taxes, fees and port expenses
- Limits:
- US residents, 21+. Free or discounted cruise with drinks for guests 1 and 2. Offers must be booked within 60 days.
- You submit:
- A valid player's card from an eligible casino program (the terms also accept a competing cruise line offer and use whichever is worth more)
- You still pay:
- Taxes and fees, paid in full to confirm the stateroom
- Limits:
- US and Canada residents, 21+, Crown & Anchor member opted in to marketing. No Royal Caribbean sailing in the 24 months before applying (the terms apply this to everyone, including new Club Royale members); existing Club Royale members also need no future booking. Complimentary fare for you and one guest on the ships, dates and cabins in the offer; redeem within 15 days and sail within 9 months. One per person; subject to approval.
- You submit:
- Competitor casino offers and win/loss statements
- You still pay:
- Taxes, fuel surcharges, upgrades and transfers on any resulting offer
- Limits:
- Reviewed case by case. Virgin publishes no formal casino status match.
- You submit:
- A card image from an eligible program, including Wynn Las Vegas, Mohegan Sun, Rivers Casino and Resorts Casino
- You still pay:
- Free to request
- Limits:
- Matches loyalty status, not casino tier. One-time request; Blue Diamond cannot be matched. US form needs a US or Puerto Rico address.
| Program | You submit | You still pay | Exclusions and limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casino FunMatch Carnival | Up to 3 loyalty cards from other casinos | $100 non-refundable deposit per person; Required Cruise Fees & Expenses up to $411 and Government Taxes & Fees up to $175.99 (basis not stated) | US residents (50 states and DC), 21+. Reply in about 7 business days; no deal guaranteed. $100 onboard credit per person, up to $200 per cabin. Runs to at least Dec 31, 2026. |
| Tier Match (Offer Match) Princess | Your best offer from another cruise line or land casino | $200 non-refundable deposit per guest; taxes, fees and port expenses of $63.14 to $427.64 | Carnival Cruise Line offers excluded. US residents, 21+. Reply in about 7 business days. $200 onboard credit per person, up to $400 per stateroom. Runs to at least Dec 31, 2026. |
| Holland America Match Holland America | Your tier at other land or sea casinos | Deposit plus taxes, fees and port expenses | US residents, 21+. Free or discounted cruise with drinks for guests 1 and 2. Offers must be booked within 60 days. |
| Rewards Match Royal Caribbean | A valid player's card from an eligible casino program (the terms also accept a competing cruise line offer and use whichever is worth more) | Taxes and fees, paid in full to confirm the stateroom | US and Canada residents, 21+, Crown & Anchor member opted in to marketing. No Royal Caribbean sailing in the 24 months before applying (the terms apply this to everyone, including new Club Royale members); existing Club Royale members also need no future booking. Complimentary fare for you and one guest on the ships, dates and cabins in the offer; redeem within 15 days and sail within 9 months. One per person; subject to approval. |
| Casino offer review Virgin Voyages | Competitor casino offers and win/loss statements | Taxes, fuel surcharges, upgrades and transfers on any resulting offer | Reviewed case by case. Virgin publishes no formal casino status match. |
| Voyagers Club status match MSC | A card image from an eligible program, including Wynn Las Vegas, Mohegan Sun, Rivers Casino and Resorts Casino | Free to request | Matches loyalty status, not casino tier. One-time request; Blue Diamond cannot be matched. US form needs a US or Puerto Rico address. |
We found no published casino match for Celebrity or NCL. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity also do not match each other's casino tiers.
Sources: Carnival FunMatch, Princess Tier Match, Holland America Match, Royal Caribbean Rewards Match, Rewards Match terms (Aug 12, 2026), Virgin Sea Rollers, MSC status match, MSC Blue Diamond release, Club Royale FAQ, Celebrity casino FAQ.
Casino points usually do not count toward cruise loyalty status
Casino programs and the main loyalty programs are separate ledgers at most lines. Our cruise loyalty programs guide covers how status is earned from nights and spend.
- Royal Caribbean and Celebrity: Points Choice lists Casino Royale and Blue Chip play points among the points that cannot be moved. The Crown & Anchor or Captain's Club points from the nights you sail on a casino cruise can be moved.
- Holland America: the Mariner Society onboard spending bonus excludes casino spend.
- MSC: Voyagers Club onboard-spend points exclude the casino.
- Virgin Voyages: casino-offer bookings do not count toward Sailing Club, and Deep Blue Extras perks are not given on casino-offer sailings.
- Carnival, the exception: since September 1, 2026, Carnival Rewards gives 1 Star for each Casino Point earned and 1 Point for each Casino Point still unused at the end of the sailing. Spending casino points on Funplay lowers the Points you receive but not your Stars.
Sources: Royal Caribbean Points Choice FAQ, Celebrity casino FAQ, Holland America Mariner Society, MSC Voyagers Club, Virgin Voyages loyalty FAQ, Virgin Sea Rollers, Carnival Rewards launch release.
Casino program changes, newest first
Items marked Press were first reported by cruise media. Where an official page has since confirmed part of an item, the entry says so.
- Sep 10, 2026OfficialVirgin Sea Rollers: Terms updated. No specific benefit change identified; the text still cites the May 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026 cycle.
- Sep 1, 2026OfficialCarnival: Carnival Rewards replaced VIFP. Each casino point earned now adds 1 Star, and each casino point unused at the end of a sailing becomes 1 Point.
- Aug 2026PressClub Royale: Cruise Mummy reported that Prime, Signature and Masters status now runs through the rest of the current year and all of the next. Royal Caribbean's FAQ still says status lasts until the next April 1 evaluation.
- May 20, 2026OfficialPrincess: Casino and Tier Match pages republished. Tier Match runs to at least December 31, 2026.
- May 2026PressClub Royale: Cruise Mummy reported a $100 non-refundable fee per stateroom on some balcony and oceanview comp offers (book by May 31, 2026 for sailings May 4 to December 31, 2026).
- Apr 1, 2026PressClub Royale: Video poker moved to $15 of play per point (was $10, per press). Press also reported a new Signature onboard credit, which Royal Caribbean's rewards page now lists at $25 to $75 by cruise length, and a published list of eligible sailings for the annual cruise.
- Feb 18, 2026OfficialMSC: MSC became the exclusive cruise partner of Wynn Rewards, with annual cruise benefits by Wynn tier.
- Early 2026PressClub Royale: Cruise Mummy reported a $3 fee for Choice members moving onboard-account money into slot play.
- 2025 to 2026OfficialBlue Chip Club: Video poker now shown as 1 point per $15 on the official page; earlier pages and a November 2025 press guide showed $10. Effective date not published.
- Aug 2025PressBlue Chip Club: Press reported new tier thresholds (Onyx 500 to Ruby 150,000) with slots at 1 point per $5. Celebrity's official benefits grid now shows the same thresholds.
- Aug to Sep 2025PressCarnival: Cruise Industry News reported SEA adults-only casino sailings: four Carnival Conquest sailings from Miami in August and September 2025.
Sources: Virgin Sea Rollers, Carnival Rewards launch release, Club Royale tiers, Club Royale FAQ, Princess Tier Match, MSC Wynn Rewards release, Celebrity Blue Chip Club, Blue Chip benefits grid (image).
Press links: Royal Caribbean Blog (April 13, 2026), Cruise Mummy (August 21, 2026), Cruise Mummy Blue Chip guide (November 5, 2025), CruiseBooking.com, Cruise Industry News (May 27, 2025).
Who should care about casino programs
Worth joining when
- You already play slots or video poker on every cruise. Enrolment is free and the points are earned either way.
- You hold land casino status and can use Carnival FunMatch, Princess Tier Match, Holland America Match, or Royal Caribbean Rewards Match if you have not sailed with Royal Caribbean in 24 months.
- You sail Carnival, where casino points now also build Carnival Rewards status.
- You budget for the taxes and fees, and often a deposit, that comps still carry.
Skip the chase when
- You would gamble only to earn a cruise. $12,500 (Club Royale) to $25,000 (Virgin Voyages Star or Celebrity Amethyst) of slot coin-in in one program year for a first cruise tier rarely beats paying the fare.
- You want the cruise to count for Sailing Club or other loyalty status.
- You need to travel at peak times, when blackouts and eligible-sailing lists apply.
- You sail with more than one companion, since comps cover guests 1 and 2 only.
How do free casino cruises work?+
How much do you have to gamble to get a free cruise?+
What is coin-in on a cruise ship casino?+
Do casino points count toward Crown & Anchor?+
Which cruise lines offer a casino status match?+
Are Royal Caribbean and Celebrity casino tiers reciprocal?+
Is it worth gambling to earn a free cruise?+
Compare the fare before you play for it
Check what the sailing actually costs before deciding whether a casino offer is worth chasing. Search Royal Caribbean or Carnival cruises, or set an alert and let us watch the fare.
Fleet and price trackers: Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Carnival, Princess, Holland America, Norwegian, MSC and Virgin Voyages.
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