Booking a casino cruise is often very different from the procedures for booking a regular cruise. Throughout much of the country, casino cruises are first come, first served businesses. Since admission to the boat is free for many companies, you just have to arrive twenty or thirty minutes before the ship is set to sail; however, you should always call the casino cruise you plan to go on to find out their specific policies.

Day Casino Cruises

Day casino cruises generally offer free boarding, and they leave in the early afternoon, returning around sunset. Day casino cruises are much more relaxed, especially during the week as the crowds are much smaller. So, if you’re looking for an intimate, relaxed afternoon with friends, a daytime casino cruise may be just what you want.

Evening Casino Cruises

Although many cruises offer free boarding, some companies will charge a minimum amount for evening cruises, usually around fifteen or twenty dollars. Many evening cruises have a room specifically for dining and sometimes another for some type of live entertainment.

Evening cruises should probably be booked in advance; often you will simply need to call and make reservations for all of the people in your party. If you want to rent the entire boat, you should call several months in advance so that the cruise company will have time to make the arrangements.

Overnight Casino Cruises

Unlike day or evening casino cruises, overnight cruises are generally aboard major cruise lines that have casinos as well as other types of entertainment. These cruises generally have to be booked well in advance; during the most popular seasons, cruises must be booked months in advance. However, off season cruises often have extra space up until a few weeks or days of sailing.

These cruises are generally booked either online with the company or an internet travel website, or they are booked using a travel agent. Generally, you will want to go through an Internet travel site or a travel agent as they will usually offer the best deals available. Neither of these entities charges you an extra fee for booking with them, but they do make a commission from the cruise company.