Some people gamble on cruise ships because they have the money to spare and they like the thrill. One hopes these folks are playing within their means, whether that means small slot machine bets or putting thousands down at the tables.
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Many players, however, enjoy gambling but also chase perks like free cruises. Both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity offer multiple methods to earn a free cruise (or a lot of them):
- Loyalty-tier offers: When you earn 2,500 points to achieve Prime on Royal Caribbean you get a free cruise issue in April. The same applies to people who reach Amethyst (5,000 points) on Celebrity. (The room class gets nicer as higher levels are earned.)
- Instant Certificates: Both cruise lines will have a sheet in the casino with a QR code that shows how many points a cruiser needs to earn on that sailing to earn a free cruise. Higher levels of points unlock nicer cabins, more free play, and more sailings.
- Email/mail offers: Both cruise lines sometimes send additional free cruise lists to passengers via mail, email, or through their casino websites. Neither cruise line shares the formula it uses to award these free cruises.
Both cruise lines give passengers 1 point for every $5 cycled through a slot machine, with video poker being $10 per point. Table-game rates vary, but generally you have to be a fairly high-roller to earn meaningful points playing table games.
That's why many, really most, passengers looking to earn free cruises play slot machines. There's a strategy to that if you want to play that way, but Royal Caribbean and Celebrity have quietly made it harder for passengers to earn free cruises.
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Understanding how slot machines work is key
Not all slot machines are created equal. Some have big prizes and fancy bonus games that are very hard to earn.
Many players like to chase big wins, so they play these machines.
That's not the best strategy to maximize points toward tier status and an Instant Certificate. Slot machines that have higher prizes will pay out less often, according to Cache Creek Casino Resort.
Slot volatility is also sometimes called variance. Both terms refer to the risk level associated with playing a particular slot machine, as measured by how often the machine is expected to pay out. Slot volatility is programmed into the machine, which dictates the frequency and size of payouts over time. A high-volatility slot will pay out infrequently, but the wins will typically be larger. In contrast, a low-volatility slot pays out more often but with smaller rewards. Understanding volatility is crucial for managing your bankroll and choosing a machine that matches your gameplay preferences.
Cruise lines don't issue free cruises based on how much money you lose. If you put $1,000 through a machine quickly, hoping to win the big prize, you earn fewer points than you would if you ran the same cash through a machine with a lower top payout and more frequent small wins.
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You earn points by staying in the game, not by racking up big wins or losses. That's why playing low-volatility slot machines is the key to earning points most efficently.
Royal Caribbean and Celebrity have updated their casinos
Most low-volatility slots are less exciting. They tend to be the machines that pay on a single line, and they rarely have bonus games.
Both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises have spent the past few years updating nearly all of their casinos. That has largely included getting rid of the lowest-volatility slot machines.
This isn't a plot by the cruise lines to make more money. Most gamblers prefer to play higher-volatility machines because they offer fun bonus games and generally have a lot more going on than classic low-volatility machines.
Both cruise lines aren't trying to take away low-volatility machines. They're trying to give cruisers the most popular slot machines.
Smart players, however, still have some choice. While the lowest-volatility machines may be gone, there are still broad variances in the machines on board.
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To maximize earning points, look for machines that have relatively low bonus payouts.
"Low-volatility machines will provide more frequent, smaller payouts, which can extend your gameplay time and reduce the risk of losing large amounts in a short period. You'll win less but feel like you're winning more because it comes more frequently," according to Cache Creek.
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