Azamara Casino Review: Does Azamara Still Have a Casino?

Azamara is a small-ship cruise line built around what it calls Destination Immersion: longer stays in port, overnight calls and late-night departures that let guests experience a destination after dark. That focus has a direct effect on gambling. Older cruise guides still list Azamara with blackjack, roulette, Three Card Poker and slots, but those casinos are gone. Azamara removed its casinos and turned the space into lounges and other guest areas.

This review explains exactly what happened to the Azamara casinos, why they were removed, what you will find onboard instead, where Azamara guests can still gamble, and which cruise lines blackjack and tournament players should consider if a casino matters to their trip.

Azamara Casino Status at a Glance

What Older Guides Say

If you search for cruise ship casino lists, you may still see Azamara described with a full casino. Older guidance listed Azamara Club Cruises with blackjack, roulette, Three Card Poker and slots, minimum bets of $3 to $5 on tables, penny slots, gaming lessons, a minimum age of 18, rising to 21 on Alaska sailings, and payment by cash, onboard account or a pre-approved line of credit. That information is now out of date. Treat it as history rather than a description of today's ships.

How Azamara Removed Its Casinos

Azamara's four ships, Azamara Journey, Azamara Quest, Azamara Pursuit and Azamara Onward, are all R-class ships originally built for Renaissance Cruises between 1998 and 2001. The casinos disappeared ship by ship:

When Azamara Pursuit entered service, it became the first Azamara ship without a casino. The space was used for the Shore Excursions and Cruise Again desks in a relaxed setting, and Azamara said at the time that removing the casino would also happen on the other ships in the future. The decision also cut the crew count and helped increase the number of cabins on the ship.

In 2019, Azamara Quest completed a dry dock in Singapore that transformed its casino into The Den, a lively lounge with comfortable seating, a piano, light live music in the evening and a long bar. Azamara Journey followed, with its casino space repurposed as a general lounge.

Why Azamara Removed Its Casinos

Azamara's leaders have been clear about the reason. Then-CEO Larry Pimentel said that a casino on a small ship that is in port all the time often cannot open. More recently, CEO Dondra Ritzenthaler explained that because Azamara ships stay in port late and overnight, the casino could not open for long stretches, leaving a large amount of valuable space largely unused.

That logic follows from basic casino rules at sea. Cruise ship casinos usually open only once the ship is in international waters and close while the ship is in port. A line that builds its itineraries around late departures and overnights simply has far fewer hours when a casino can legally operate. For Azamara, the space was more valuable as a lounge, a gathering place and extra cabins.

Reaction from guests has been mixed. Some longtime cruisers say they skip Azamara because there is no casino, while others say the lack of a casino was one of the reasons they chose the line. Azamara has pointed to the popularity of The Den as evidence that most guests prefer the new use of the space.

What You Will Find Instead

The Den

The Den is the most visible replacement for the old casino. It is a relaxed lounge where guests read, listen to live piano music, mingle and plan shore time. On some ships, a concierge desk staffed with destination experts helps guests plan land excursions.

Bingo

Bingo is now the main game of chance onboard. Bingo is played on most sea days on an Azamara cruise, with an array of prizes. It can be surprisingly rewarding: in one widely reported case, a guest on Azamara Quest won a suite upgrade worth tens of thousands of dollars on a long voyage by winning a game of blackout bingo.

The Card Room

Azamara ships offer a card room where guests can play games such as bridge casually. It is not a casino, and there is no house-banked gambling, but it is a good spot for players who enjoy card strategy.

Shows and Game Shows

Azamara has expanded its entertainment with RWS Global, adding original stage shows, two interactive game shows designed to involve guests, themed musical experiences and fleetwide technical upgrades to its venues. New productions began rolling out in 2026, starting with Azamara Pursuit and following on Journey, Quest and Onward.

White Night and Evening Events

The signature White Night party, a themed evening on the pool deck with live music and guests dressed in white, is one of the highlights of an Azamara cruise and a good example of the line's social, low-key nightlife.

Where Azamara Guests Can Still Gamble

Azamara's destination focus means many itineraries call at or near ports with land-based casinos. Popular examples include:

• Monte Carlo, Monaco, home of the famous Casino de Monte-Carlo, on Mediterranean itineraries.
• San Juan, Puerto Rico, where several hotels host casinos.
• Nassau, Bahamas, with resort casinos within reach of the cruise port.
• Las Palmas and other Canary Islands ports, which have local casinos.
• Cities in Asia and South America visited on longer voyages, many with large hotel casinos.

Because Azamara often stays late or overnight, you may actually have more time to visit a land-based casino than you would on a line that departs in the late afternoon. Check local age rules, dress codes and ID requirements before you go.

What This Means for Blackjack Tournament Players

For readers of this site, the conclusion is simple: Azamara is not a line for blackjack or tournament play. There are no casino tables, no slot machines and no casino tournaments onboard. If you love tournament blackjack, you have three options:

• Choose a different cruise line with a regular tournament schedule.
• Combine an Azamara cruise with a land-based tournament, scheduling a pre- or post-cruise stay near a casino that runs blackjack events.
• Keep your skills sharp at home with tournament practice, so you are ready for your next casino trip.

Keeping Your Tournament Skills Sharp Without a Casino

• Practice tournament math. Work through scenarios where you trail the leader by a set amount with a few hands left.
• Study betting order. Learn how acting first or last changes the best bet on the final hand.
• Review elimination strategy. Many tournaments eliminate the lowest stacks at set points, which changes the right play.
• Read the strategy guides on this site to prepare for your next tournament.

Is a Casino-Free Cruise Right for You?

Before booking Azamara, think about how you usually spend your evenings at sea:

• If you play most nights, a casino-free ship will feel like something is missing.
• If you mainly want tournaments, Azamara cannot offer them.
• If you play a few hands occasionally, a land-based casino visit in port may be enough.
• If you are traveling for the destinations, Azamara's late nights and overnights in port may matter far more than a casino.

Many frequent cruisers mix their trips, choosing a casino-friendly line for some voyages and a destination-focused line like Azamara for others.

Friendly Card Games Onboard

The card room is open to guests who want to play bridge, canasta and other card games socially. You can also play a friendly practice round of blackjack with friends for points rather than money, which is a pleasant way to rehearse basic strategy and tournament betting decisions while you are away from a casino.

Better Choices for Casino Players

If you like Azamara's style but want a casino, consider these lines:

Oceania and Regent are particularly close to Azamara in style and guest profile, and both are part of Casinos At Sea Rewards, which also covers Norwegian Cruise Line.

How Azamara Compares With Other Casino-Free Lines

Azamara is not the only cruise line without a casino. Disney Cruise Line has never offered casinos on its ships, Windstar removed its casinos in 2018 and 2019, and many expedition and small luxury lines skip them entirely. What sets Azamara apart is that it once had casinos and chose to remove them, a sign of how strongly the line has committed to its port-intensive style.

Azamara Ownership and Fleet Updates

Azamara was founded in 2007 by Royal Caribbean Group to offer a more upscale, destination-focused product. During the pandemic, Royal Caribbean sold Azamara and its ships to the private equity firm Sycamore Partners. The line's four ships are registered in Malta. Azamara has announced a major fleetwide upgrade, with Azamara Journey scheduled for a dry dock in 2027 to refresh public spaces and cabins. There has been no announcement that casinos will return as part of those upgrades.

Pros and Cons for Casino-Minded Travelers

Tips for Azamara Guests Who Enjoy Gambling

• Plan a land-based casino visit during a late or overnight port call.
• Join bingo on sea days for prizes and a little excitement.
• Use the card room if you enjoy bridge or other card games.
• Book a different line for any trip where casino time matters.
• Combine trips. Pair an Azamara cruise with a few nights at a casino resort before or after.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Azamara have a casino?

No. Azamara removed the casinos from its ships and repurposed the space as lounges and other guest areas.

Why did Azamara remove its casinos?

Azamara's ships spend long periods in port, including late departures and overnights, so the casinos could rarely open. The line decided the space was better used as lounges and guest facilities.

Is there any gambling on Azamara?

Bingo is played on most sea days with prizes. There are no casino tables or slot machines.

Will Azamara bring its casinos back?

Azamara has not announced any plans to bring casinos back as part of its fleet upgrades.

Which lines are similar to Azamara but have casinos?

Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Silversea and Crystal all offer upscale or luxury experiences with onboard casinos.

Final Verdict

Azamara made a deliberate choice to give up its casinos in favor of lounges, cabins and longer, richer port stays. For many guests, that trade works well. For blackjack players and tournament fans, it means Azamara is not the right line. If you love Azamara's destination-focused style, enjoy bingo and a land-based casino visit on a late night in port. If you want blackjack tables, slots and tournaments at sea, book Oceania, Regent, Celebrity or another line covered in our cruise ship casino reviews.

Casino rules, games, minimums and loyalty benefits change often and vary by ship and itinerary. Always confirm current details with the cruise line or the casino host onboard before you play. Gamble responsibly and only with money you can afford to lose.