Whether you want to try your luck at a slot machine, play a round of roulette, or test your Blackjack skills, the casino on Carnival ships has always been a central entertainment hub for many guests.
However, Carnival Cruise Line decided to ban a common onboard activity that had been a favorite for some cruisers: cash games outside the casino.
Though the casino is often packed into the late evening hours, not all cruisers wish to be surrounded by bright lights, smoke, or noisy machines. Unfortunately, Carnival's Brand Ambassador John Heald confirmed the cruise line doesn't allow cash-based gambling in non-designated areas of the ship.
Suzy LeGear Johnson took to Facebook to ask whether she could play LCR (Left Center Right), a popular dice game, on her upcoming Carnival cruise.
"I’m cruising soon and would like to play LCR with friends. It’s a dice game you play with a total of 3 $1 bills. The winner gets the pot. I have done this many times on ship, I was just told Carnival doesn’t allow that anymore Is that true?" she asked.
According to Heald, Carnival Cruise Line has never allowed gambling outside the casino: "You can play for no money, but I'm afraid that because of very important rules and regulations, we do not allow guests to gamble outside of the casino."
Read more: 19 things to do on a cruise that don't involve eating, drinking, or gambling
In a subsequent post, Heald further explained the reasoning, with an anonymous user asking about the harm in playing LCR in a private room.
"LRC is the most popular card game after poker for Americans aged 50 plus. You answered Susan’s question saying Carnival would not allow this to be played and enjoyed," the post reads.
"I played LRC on --- with 10-12 CC people for money but --- provided a private room. Where is the actual harm in this. Explain yourself better because we have a Where’s George group going on the Radiance Hawaii cruise in Feb and we will be playing LRC."
Heald was stern in his response, stating that Carnival doesn't allow gambling outside of the casino because of strict rules. "You can play for fun or mini Twix bars but not money," he adds.
As long as there’s no exchange of money, Carnival guests are free to play card, board, or dice games throughout the ship. In fact, it's common to see passengers gathered in lounges on sea days playing together.
Read more: I got a free cruise in the ship casino. Here's what it really cost me
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
