Cunard Cruise Casinos

There are just four ships in the Cunard fleet, but it remains one of the best-known brands in the world. The QM2 was once one of the flagship vessels on the seas, thanks to the combination of the ship’s size as well as its style and the luxury that passengers would enjoy on board.

Although the ship is no longer one of the biggest to sail the seven seas, it doesn’t make her any less impressive and, as with the other ships in the fleet, there is a casino on board that will keep those that fancy a flutter entertained for hours. The nature of the differing ships means that no two casinos are alike, but all promise an evening of entertainment.

The Casinos

What you will get from the casino on the Queen that you’re travelling on will depend entirely on the ship that you have boarded. The Empire Casino on the Queen Mary 2 has opted for old-world elegance, whilst also adding in some slot machines and other electronic options to ensure that you have plenty of choices for your play whilst on board. On the Queen Victoria, meanwhile, the styling is that of an Art Deco venue, which can be found on Deck 2 of the ship. If you’re on the Queen Elizabeth, you’ll find an open-plan casino underneath the Royal Arcade, whilst the Queen Anne’s casino might be the biggest of the lot.

Regardless of the ship that you find yourself on, the casinos will be well laid out and decorated to the highest standard. In the eyes of Cunard, they are looking to give you a taste of Monte Carlo whilst you’re on the high seas, promising an elegant location in which to enjoy your excitement. The casinos are non-smoking areas, which will no doubt be a relief to many, adding to the elegant atmosphere on offer. They are laid out to mean that everyone who goes can enjoy them, regardless of whether you’re someone that likes to be in the heart of the action or you’re the kind of person that prefers to take a back seat and soak up the atmosphere.

High Rollers

The very nature of the Cunard line is such that the line attracts those who prefer the more sophisticated approach to life, so it’s not really a surprise that high rollers are catered to well. There are elegant surroundings on board and activities aimed at the more high-brow passenger, even though there aren’t specific rooms for high rollers on the ships. Instead, the casino will do what it can in order to cater to the whims and desires of high rollers, so you simply need to let the casino staff know that you’re looking to bet big and they will do what they can in order to ensure that you’re able to do so comfortably.

The Available Games

You won’t be overly surprised to learn that all of the casinos offer many of the same games as one another, with all of the venues having table games such as roulette, craps, blackjack and three-card poker available for you to play. The exact number of table games and the makeup of the games on offer will depend on your exact ship. In addition to the table games, there are also plenty of slots available as well as other electronic games like video poker and electronic roulette, so if you’re not the sort of person that likes to spend time in the company of others on the table games then you’ll be more than ok in a Cunard casino.

During the day, you can head along to the casino in order to spend time in the company of the experienced croupiers, who will happily explain the rules of the various games that are on offer in order to ensure that you know what you’re doing if you choose to play them. When night comes, the casino becomes a lot busier thanks to the arrival of both casual guests and those that are on board one of the Queens in order to indulge themselves as a high roller. Whether you’re a lover of Texas Hold’em or just enjoy the spin of the roulette wheel, there will be something available for you to enjoy in the on-board casino.

How to Pay for Your Bets

One of the joys of heading to the casino on board a Cunard cruise liner is that you have options when it comes to paying for your bets. On the one hand, the easiest thing to do is to use your cruise card in order to pay for your bets, but on the other hand, that can make it easy to run up a bigger bill than you might have been hoping for. That is why many people prefer to take cash out and get it changed for chips to use on the tables. If you want to play slots, you can ask for the cash to be put on your room, but that then leaves you open once again to the possibility of overspending, so make sure you keep track of what you’re betting.

Loyalty Scheme

The moment you complete your first voyage on a Cunard ship, you are signed up to the Cunard World Club. This is the cruise line’s general loyalty scheme, as opposed to one that is casino-specific, offering you the chance to earn points based on how many trips you take on board. The more nights you spend on board a Cunard vessel, the higher up the tiers you will go. Everyone starts off in Silver, going to Gold and then Platinum before arriving at Diamond if you sail 15 times in a year or spend 150 or more nights on board. One of the things that you might have spotted is absent from this discussion is any mention of the casino.

That is because there isn’t really a casino-specific loyalty scheme. If that is something that particularly matters to you, then the truth is that you might be better served choosing to sail with a different cruise line. That being said, it is worth pointing out that those that spend large sums of money in the casino or happen to spend a large amount of time there playing the games will no doubt come to the attention of the casino manager. If that happens, you can expect to be on the receiving end of some benefits, even if there is no specific outline of what those benefits are put in place by the cruise line firm itself.

Routes

With just four vessels in their lineup, it isn’t exactly outrageous to suggest that Cunard doesn’t have the same level of options as other cruise liners when it comes to their destinations. Having said that, the company does ensure that all of the big options are well covered. When it comes to the Caribbean, the Queen Elizabeth is the main ship that will be sailing those particular waters. Boasting a homeport of Miami, you can opt for a nine or a 12-night cruise of the Eastern Caribbean, 21 nights around the Caribbean more generally or a nine-night trip around the Western Caribbean, as well as a 12-night ‘Caribbean Celebration’.

If you’d like to think more broadly, Cunard has got you covered on that front too. Arguably the most famous route that you can opt to do with Cunard is one of the company’s Transatlantic voyages, which looks to sail from Southampton to New York City and back again. There is also the opportunity to travel to Asia or Australia, South Africa or the South Pacific. If you’d like to keep things a little closer to home, then you can head on a Cunard cruise to see the Northern Lights, or simply head around the Mediterranean or Northern Europe. If you want to really push yourself, you might opt for a cruise around Norway and the Norwegian Fjords.

What Else Is on Board?

As mentioned in the High Rollers section, Cunard ships tend to be aimed at the higher end of the scale when it comes to the people that the vessels attract. This means that you’re not going to be experiencing big slides going into pools on board, for example, or see much that might be considered ‘child-friendly’. That doesn’t mean that there’s nothing interesting to do during your time on board, with the likes of guided gin tastings and late-night dancing just as likely to occur as an afternoon spent sunbathing by the pool. If you’re a foodie, you will be delighted by the various options that are open to you as you wander the decks.

Food & Drinks

From steakhouses to gastro pubs via a place to enjoy some afternoon tea and a location where you can take part in an indulgent buffet, you’ll be covered pretty much whatever your fancy. The same kind of thing is true of the bars on board, from the Commodore Club to the Queens Room via the casino and the Golden Lion Pub. Depending on the ship that you’re on, you might be able to head to a champagne bar or a nightclub, find yourself in a serene space or spend time in the garden lounge. Make sure to get yourself a drinks package before you board if you want to be able to explore what’s on offer almost guilt-free.

Activities

If you’re an active person, then you might want to consider taking part in yoga in the morning or joining in a dance class in the afternoon. There are deck games to be enjoyed or fencing lessons to take part in, as well as the ability to spend time lounging by the pool. If you’re hoping to wile away some time, a trip around the on-board shops and galleries might be just what you’re after, whilst those of you that see a cruise as a time to relax will be pleased to look at the wellness and beauty options that are open to you. Then there’s the evening entertainment, chief of which is the chance to spend time watching West End-quality shows in the theatre.

Smart Dress Code

Although it would be untrue to suggest that Cunard vessels are aimed at families, it is also true that there are some areas of the ship that are specifically aimed at children and young people. The shows are also family-friendly, so you don’t need to be worried about heading to the Royal Court Theatre with your kids. Having said that, there is no question that Cunard ships are always likely to be enjoyed more by the older people in the party, thanks to the likes of gala evenings and the need to dress smartly virtually every time you leave your cabin. If you never want to be out of your jeans or shorts, this might not be the cruise line for you.