Cruise casinos for Australian and New Zealand players
Which of the ten lines we cover sail from Australia or New Zealand between 2026 and 2028, and what changes on those sailings: casino smoking, Australian or US dollars, joining each casino program, ages, when the casino opens, tax, and where to get help.
Six of the ten lines we cover have announced sailings from Australia or New Zealand in 2026–2028: Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Princess, Norwegian and Holland America. Carnival is the only one based in Australia year-round, with Carnival Splendor in Sydney and Carnival Encounter in Brisbane. Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Adventure leave Australia in March 2028.
Carnival and Princess run Australian-dollar ships on their Australian cruises; Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Holland America bill in US dollars. Royal Caribbean doesn't allow smoking in the casino on any ship sailing from Australia, and Carnival's brand ambassador has said the same of Carnival's Australian ships. The usual gambling age is 18. Inland Revenue lists gambling winnings among payments New Zealanders don't need to tell it about; the ATO page we opened covers lottery prizes but doesn't mention casino wins.
Line by line
What each line has announced from Australian and New Zealand ports, and how its casino works on those sailings. Deployments are from the lines' own announcements unless marked Reported. Itineraries change, so check your sailing before you book. Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter were P&O Cruises Australia's Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter; see what happened to P&O Cruises Australia.
| Line | From Australia or NZ, 2026–2028 | Onboard currency | Casino smoking | Casino program |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival | Carnival Splendor year-round from Sydney and Carnival Encounter year-round from Brisbane. Carnival Luminosa makes her final voyage from Sydney on March 15, 2028, and Carnival Adventure departs Sydney on March 20, 2028 and won't return. | Australian dollars on all cruises departing an Australian port. Casino cash transactions on Australia cruises are in AUD only. | Non-smoking on ships sailing from Australia Reported | Carnival Players Club, 18+. Its program page lists Splendor and Luminosa but not Adventure or Encounter. |
| Royal Caribbean | 2026–27: Anthem of the Seas from Sydney and Quantum of the Seas from Brisbane, October 2026 to April 2027 Reported. 2027–28: Anthem from Sydney, Ovation of the Seas from Brisbane, and Voyager of the Seas from both before moving to Asia in early 2028 Reported. | US dollars. Royal Caribbean's Australian FAQ says all onboard prices are in USD. | No smoking in the casino on any ship sailing from Australia. | Club Royale, free for all guests 18+ (21+ in Alaska). No residency rule on its Australian FAQ. |
| Celebrity | 2026–27: Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Solstice, with departures from Sydney and Auckland. We found no 2027–28 announcement. | US dollars on all Celebrity ships, per its Australian booking conditions. | Celebrity calls its casinos smoke-free. | Blue Chip Club, 18+ (21 in Alaska). No residency rule on its Australian page. |
| Princess | 2026–27: Royal Princess based in Sydney, Crown Princess on a Round Australia cruise from Sydney, and Grand Princess mostly from Brisbane. 2027–28: Royal Princess in Sydney, Sapphire Princess in Fremantle, and Grand Princess. | Australian dollars on cruises that depart from and return to Australia, and one-way Sydney–Auckland. US dollars on other sailings, including repositioning voyages from the US or Asia. | Casino and casino bar non-smoking, except at designated slot machines. No separate Australian rule published. | Princess Players Advantage: you join by playing with your Medallion. Sea You Soon offers earned in Australia can be used on cruises anywhere. |
| Norwegian | Norwegian Spirit, December 2027 to April 2028, from Sydney, Auckland and Singapore. Norwegian calls it the ship's fifth consecutive season in the region. | Not rechecked. Norwegian's Australian currency FAQ didn't load for us. | No Australian rule published. | Casinos At Sea Rewards, 21+ with government photo ID. The terms set no residency rule. |
| Holland America | 2027–28: Westerdam, September 2027 to March 2028, with roundtrips from Sydney and Sydney–Auckland voyages. | US dollars for all onboard pricing and charges. | No Australian rule published. | Not rechecked for this guide; see our Holland America page. |
| Virgin Voyages | None. Virgin's South Pacific page says “we're no longer sailing to Australia.” | — | — | — |
| MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, Explora Journeys | We found no season from Australian or New Zealand ports announced for 2026–2028. | — | — | — |
Reported deployments: Royal Caribbean's 2026–27 season as reported by Cruise Industry News on May 10, 2025; its 2027–28 lineup as reported by Cruise Industry News on August 13, 2026, after Ovation of the Seas was added. We didn't open a Royal Caribbean release for either.
Carnival's 2028 change
On October 15, 2026, Carnival announced that Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Adventure will leave Australia in March 2028. Luminosa, which has sailed seasonally from Brisbane since 2022, makes her final voyage from Sydney on March 15, 2028. Carnival Adventure departs Sydney on March 20, 2028 and “will not return to Australia as originally planned.”
- What staysCarnival Splendor and Carnival Encounter continue to sail year-round from Sydney and Brisbane. Carnival says it is the only cruise line sailing year-round from Australia.
- The reason Carnival givesThe Federal Government extended cruise ships' ability to sail between Australian ports until the end of 2028 while it develops a long-term licensing regime. Carnival called the extension “a welcome but interim step.”
- For casino playersSplendor and Encounter stay Australian-dollar ships. Carnival said on October 15, 2026 that their 2028/29 program would be released “in the coming weeks.”
Casino smoking
Ship casinos are often one of the few indoor places where smoking is allowed. On Australian sailings that's mostly not the case.
- Royal Caribbean“Smoking is not permitted in the casino for any ships sailing from Australia and the United Kingdom,” according to its Australian smoking FAQ. Elsewhere its casinos have smoking and non-smoking areas.
- CarnivalReported In a Facebook post on October 6, 2026, reported by Cruise Hive, brand ambassador John Heald said “any ship sailing from Australia will have non-smoking casinos.” Cruise Hive named Adventure, Encounter and Luminosa; Splendor wasn't on its list, though it sails from Sydney.
- CelebrityCalls its casinos smoke-free.
- PrincessIts Australian FAQ says the casino and casino bar are non-smoking areas “with the exception of designated slot machines,” where you can smoke only while playing. It doesn't give a different rule for ships sailing from Australia.
- Norwegian and Holland AmericaNot published for Australian sailings.
Ship-by-ship smoking notes are in each ship casino profile. We haven't checked Australian state smoking laws, so we don't say whether they apply on board.
Australian or US dollars
Your fare may be priced in AUD or NZD, but that doesn't tell you what the casino runs in. If your onboard account is in US dollars, your bank may add a foreign exchange fee to every charge, including casino play.
- Carnival: AUD“The onboard currency is Australian dollars for all cruises departing from an Australian port.” Another Carnival Australia answer says all its cruises from Australia and New Zealand use AUD. The casino FAQ says that on Australia cruises “all cash transactions are in AUD dollars only.” Carnival confirmed Adventure and Encounter kept AUD when they joined the fleet.
- Princess: AUD on Australian roundtripsAUD on cruises departing from and returning to Australia, one-way Sydney–Auckland, and select repositioning voyages between Asia and Australia. Other sailings, including repositioning from the US, are in USD. Credit cards aren't accepted in the casino; play goes on your cabin account, and you can exchange cash for chips.
- Royal Caribbean: USDAll onboard prices are in USD. Most major currencies can be exchanged for US dollars on board, up to USD $950 per person per day.
- Celebrity: USD“The currency used on board all Celebrity Cruises ships is US Dollars,” per its Australian booking conditions, which also warn your card provider may charge a foreign exchange fee. Cash advances and chip purchases at the casino cashier carry a transaction fee.
- Holland America: USD“All onboard pricing, charges, and settlements are handled in U.S. dollars.”
- Cash around embarkationRoyal Caribbean says that, due to Australian government regulations, it can't take cash payments, including in AUD, from midnight on the evening before disembarkation until 9pm on embarkation day.
Joining and earning
None of the program pages we opened restricts membership to US residents. Where you live matters more for offers, matches and tax forms than for earning points on board.
- Royal CaribbeanClub Royale is “free to join for all guests 18 years and older (21 years or older in Alaska),” according to its Australian FAQ.
- CelebrityBlue Chip Club: you must be 18 to play (21 in Alaska), according to its Australian page.
- CarnivalGuests 18 or older can join the Players Club and earn at tables and slots. Its program page lists the ships it's available on: Splendor and Luminosa are there, Adventure and Encounter aren't (as of October 22, 2026). Ask the casino on board whether play on those two is rated.
- PrincessYou earn by logging in to Players Advantage with your Medallion at a slot or table; there's no form. Princess says Sea You Soon offers earned in Australia can be used on qualifying cruises anywhere in the world, and the other way around.
- NorwegianThe Casinos At Sea Rewards terms require you to be 21 and show government photo ID. They set no residency rule.
- Matches are a different storySeveral status-match programs are for US residents only. See matches, casino hosts and travel agents and each line's offers guide before you rely on one.
How old you have to be
On sailings from Australia and New Zealand the drinking age is 18 on the lines that publish one, so it matches the gambling age. That's different from US sailings, where several lines set drinking at 21.
| Line | Age to gamble | Drinking age from Australia or NZ |
|---|---|---|
| Carnival | 18. Under-18s aren't allowed in the casino at any time. | 18 on all cruises departing Australia and New Zealand. |
| Royal Caribbean | 18. | 18 on cruises from Australia and New Zealand. |
| Celebrity | 18. 21 on Alaska itineraries. | 18 on ships sailing from Australia and New Zealand. |
| Princess | 18. Under-18s may not gamble or stay in the casino. | Not published on the pages we opened. |
| Norwegian | 21 to join Casinos At Sea Rewards, with photo ID. | Not rechecked. |
Free casino drinks can have their own age rule: Carnival's casino FAQ says free drinks while you play are for 21 and over, and doesn't say whether that changes on Australian ships. Ask the casino host.
When the casino opens
No line we checked publishes when its casino may open after leaving an Australian or New Zealand port, or how far out it has to be. We haven't found an Australian government page that sets this out either, so we don't give a distance or a time.
- CelebrityIts Australian booking conditions say the casino is closed whenever the ship is in port.
- CarnivalHours vary with the itinerary and are in the HUB App. The casino doesn't open on debarkation day, so cash out your Player Bank by the last night.
- Royal CaribbeanRedeem all chips, tokens and tickets before the cruise ends, while the casino is open.
- Check each dayOn a short getaway, the daily planner or app is the only place the hours are given.
The general rules, and why casinos close in port, are in when cruise casinos open.
Tax on winnings
This isn't tax advice. It's what the two tax offices' own pages say, and what the lines say about US forms.
- Australia (ATO)The ATO's page on amounts you don't include as income (updated June 8, 2026) says you generally don't declare “prizes you won in ordinary lotteries, such as lotto draws and raffles.” It doesn't mention casino or betting wins, so we don't say how the ATO treats them. Ask the ATO or a registered tax agent.
- New Zealand (Inland Revenue)Inland Revenue lists “winnings from gambling or a New Zealand lottery” among payments you don't need to tell it about.
- US formsCarnival says its W-2G reporting and withholding guidelines “are for citizens and permanent residents of the United States only.” Celebrity says it issues a W-2G to US citizens and residents, and a 1042 form to non-US guests for wins while in US territorial waters.
- Cruises that call in the USCelebrity's 1042 rule is for wins in US territorial waters. If your itinerary includes US ports such as Hawaii, ask the casino how wins there are reported.
US rules and what each line issues are in cruise casino winnings and taxes.
Getting help
Set your budget before you board, in the currency the ship uses, and stop when it's gone. The casino is a short walk away all cruise, so decide in advance how many sessions you'll play.
If gambling stops being fun
Australia: call the National Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858, free and confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Gambling Help Online has free 24/7 chat and email counseling. BetStop, the Australian Government's self-exclusion register, blocks you from licensed Australian online and phone gambling providers.
New Zealand: the Gambling Helpline is free on 0800 654 655, or text 8006, 24 hours a day.
On board, you can also ask the casino host whether the line can exclude you from its casinos.
Sources
- Carnival News — Carnival Cruise Line announces Australia deployment change (Oct 15, 2026)
- Carnival Australia — What is the currency onboard? (accessed Oct 22, 2026)
- Carnival Australia — Will the onboard currency change to USD on Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter? (accessed Oct 22, 2026)
- Carnival Australia — Cruises departing from outside Australia (accessed Oct 22, 2026)
- Carnival — Casino and Carnival Players Club FAQ (accessed Oct 22, 2026)
- Carnival — Carnival Players Club (ships list) (accessed Oct 22, 2026)
- Cruise Hive — Carnival confirms full list of ships with smoke-free casinos (John Heald's Facebook post) (Oct 6, 2026)
- Royal Caribbean Australia — Onboard smoking policy (accessed Oct 22, 2026)
- Royal Caribbean Australia — Casino FAQ (accessed Oct 22, 2026)
- Royal Caribbean Australia — Club Royale FAQ (accessed Oct 22, 2026)
- Royal Caribbean Australia — International age policy (accessed Oct 22, 2026)
- Royal Caribbean Australia — How do I pay for onboard purchases? (accessed Oct 22, 2026)
- Royal Caribbean Australia — Do you exchange cash for local currency onboard or at the port? (accessed Oct 22, 2026)
- Cruise Industry News — Two Royal Caribbean ships to Australia in 2026-27 (May 10, 2025)
- Cruise Industry News — Royal Caribbean expands operations in Australia and Asia for 2027-28 (Aug 13, 2026)
- Celebrity Cruises Australia — 2026–2027 Australia & New Zealand cruises (accessed Oct 22, 2026)
- Celebrity Cruises — Australia booking conditions (clause 17, currency; casino) (accessed Oct 22, 2026)
- Celebrity Cruises Australia — The Casino (accessed Oct 22, 2026)
- Celebrity Cruises Australia — Blue Chip Club (accessed Oct 22, 2026)
- Celebrity Cruises Australia — On board a cruise FAQs (accessed Oct 22, 2026)
- Celebrity Cruises Australia — Onboard casino FAQs (accessed Oct 22, 2026)
- Princess Cruises Australia — Onboard experience FAQs (accessed Oct 22, 2026)
- Princess Cruises — 2026/2027 Australia and New Zealand season announced (Dec 3, 2024)
- Princess Cruises — 2027-28 Australia summer season with three ships (Nov 26, 2025)
- Princess Cruises — Sea You Soon casino offers (accessed Oct 22, 2026)
- Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings — Norwegian Cruise Line unveils winter 2027/28 deployment (Dec 17, 2025)
- NCL — Casino terms and conditions (accessed Oct 22, 2026)
- Holland America Line — 2027–2028 Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific season (Nov 19, 2025)
- Holland America — What currency is used on board? (accessed Oct 22, 2026)
- Virgin Voyages — South Pacific cruises (accessed Oct 22, 2026)
- Australian Taxation Office — Amounts you do not include as income (updated Jun 8, 2026; accessed Oct 22, 2026)
- Inland Revenue (NZ) — Other income (accessed Oct 22, 2026)
- Department of Social Services — Gambling support services (accessed Oct 22, 2026)
- BetStop (Australian Government) — Support tools: National Gambling Helpline and Gambling Help Online (accessed Oct 22, 2026)
- BetStop — the National Self-Exclusion Register (accessed Oct 22, 2026)
- Gambling Helpline (New Zealand) (accessed Oct 22, 2026)
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