The Clearwater area touches Tampa Bay on the western side of Florida and is one of the premiere cruise destinations in the nation. For cruise enthusiasts who love to gamble, many of the big-name cruise companies that sail from the harbor offer gaming options. For those seeking an exotic place to gamble and not a full-fledged cruise, there is also a day-cruise for those willing to take a moderate drive.
Offering a multitude of cruises at any given time that depart from Tampa Bay, Carnival patrons can choose from a cruise as short as four days or two weeks long and beyond. Regardless of length, many of the ships departing from Tampa Bay feature extensive casinos. Gaming standards, including slot machines and blackjack, as well as poker tournaments and roulette are featured. Jackpots won from Carnival ships have been as high as a million dollars and more, so it might be beneficial for the lucky guests to take advantage of the free-membership and 24 hour-a-day operation of Carnival's casinos.
Carnival Cruise Lines
The Seaport Street Terminal
651 Channelside Drive
Terminal #2
Tampa, FL 33602
888-227-6482
carnival.com
Royal Caribbean, like Carnival, is one of the most famous cruise lines in the country with many ships that set sail or end up in Tampa Bay. While guests travel to exotic locations that include parts of Mexico, South America and the Caribbean, casinos are available to entertain guests. Referred to as a "Casino Royale" on each ship, these gambling havens are styled after Vegas casinos and offer gaming to novices and experienced players alike. Most ships feature hundreds of slot machines and 10 to 20 card tables.
Royal Caribbean
Port of Tampa, Terminal 3
815 Channelside Drive
Tampa, FL 33602
866-562-7625
royalcaribbean.com
Touted as one of western Florida's only gambling ships, The Big M Casino hosts a Fort Myers Beach Casino Cruise. The ship offers day-trip gaming for guests who want to skip the distractions of a typical cruise and hone in on the gambling itself. Because The Big M focuses on gaming, it prides itself on providing an authentic Vegas-style experience at sea. All the staples are offered, including Blackjack, slots, poker and more. With free parking and six-hour cruises, guests can take advantage of a full buffet and live music on weekends as part of the experience.
The Big M
Fort Myers Beach Casino Cruise
450 Harbor Ct.
Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
239-765-7529
bigmcasino.com
