Cruise casino calendar
The dates a casino cruiser plans around, 2026 to 2028: when each program year ends and status resets, the last day to use an annual cruise, tournament sailings, new ships and dated rule changes. Every date comes from one of our sourced pages, and each event links to it.
Coming up: Carnival's $1 Million Slot Tournament on Carnival Jubilee (November 14, 2026) and Norwegian's $1 Million Takeover on Norwegian Joy (December 4–11, 2026). Club Royale and Casinos At Sea tier years end on March 31, 2027, the same day as Royal Caribbean's annual-cruise book-and-sail-by deadline. Sea Roller Rewards follows on April 30, Blue Chip Club on July 31 (with its own annual-cruise deadline) and Margaritaville's Players Club on September 30. Carnival Rewards' first status window runs to December 31, 2028.
The calendar
Dates are the lines' own unless an event is marked Reported. When a page gives only a month, the calendar shows the month and never a made-up day. Future program-year ends assume the line keeps the year it uses now.
January 2026
(month only)
Reel Resolution slot tournament on Icon of the Seas
Royal Caribbean's 2026 Reel Resolution event: $25,000 cash (or cash and Free Play) for first place, Free Play for 2nd to 20th, no rebuys.
From Cruise casino tournaments. Source: Royal Caribbean — 2026 Reel Resolution slot tournament official rules
February 2026
(month only)
MSC becomes Wynn Rewards' cruise partner
MSC became Wynn Rewards' exclusive cruise partner. Wynn Platinum members can get an ocean-view cruise of up to 10 nights plus $100 free play.
From MSC Cruises. Source: MSC Press Area — Wynn partnership
Wynn Rewards partnership with Holland America ends
Wynn Rewards moved its cruise partnership from Holland America to MSC.
From Holland America Line. Source: AwardWallet — Wynn cruise partnership Reported
No fee on casino charges at tables or the cashier
From this date Carnival charges no service fee when you charge casino play to your Sail & Sign card at tables or the cashier. There was already none at machines.
From Carnival Cruise Line. Source: Carnival — Casino and Carnival Players Club FAQ
March 2026
Club Royale annual cruise: book and sail by (2025–26 year)
The deadline for the annual cruise earned in the 2025–26 program year, per Royal Caribbean's older benefits grid (printed January 2026).
From Program-year deadlines. Source: Royal Caribbean — Club Royale benefits grid (PDF, 2025–26 program year)
Club Royale program year ends
Last day of the April 2025–March 2026 program year. Tier Credits go back to zero on April 1, and your tier for the new year is set from the credits you earned in the year that ended.
From Program-year deadlines. Source: Royal Caribbean — Club Royale tiers FAQ
Casinos At Sea Rewards tier year ends
Last day of the April 2025–March 2026 tier year. Everyone starts at zero for tier purposes at 12 a.m. Eastern on April 1. Spendable points aren't wiped; they expire 18 months after they're earned.
From Program-year deadlines. Source: NCL — Casinos At Sea Rewards
April 2026
(month only)
Club Royale 2026–27 benefit changes
The annual cruise for Prime and above now comes from select sailings of up to 7 nights, and Signature members get onboard credit of $25, $50 or $75 depending on sailing length.
From Royal Caribbean. Source: Royal Caribbean — Club Royale rewards program and benefits table
Club Royale video poker earning slows
Video poker now earns 1 point per $15 played. Press reports put the old rate at $10 and date the change April 1, 2026.
From Royal Caribbean. Source: Royal Caribbean — Club Royale FAQ
Sea Roller Rewards earning year ends
Last day of the May 2025–April 2026 earning year. Status points go back to zero on May 1, and your status for the year ahead is set from the year that ended.
From Program-year deadlines. Source: Virgin Voyages — Casino and Sea Roller Rewards terms
July 2026
(month only)
Explora III delivered
Explora's third ship, with a casino on Deck 4. Explora has no casino rewards program.
From Explora Journeys. Source: Explora Journeys — Explora III delivery
Legend of the Seas sets sail
First cruise for Royal Caribbean's newest Icon Class ship, with the fleet's first two-level Casino Royale.
From Royal Caribbean. Source: Cruise Industry News — Legend sets sail on first cruise Reported
Blue Chip Club tier year ends
Last day of the August 2025–July 2026 year. Tier Credits go back to zero on August 1. A cruise that begins in July and ends after August 1 counts toward the year that's ending.
From Program-year deadlines. Source: Celebrity Cruises — Blue Chip Club terms
August 2026
(month only)
Free Play slot tournament
Norwegian's August 2026 Free Play tournament offered a share of $30,000 in Free Slot Play.
From Cruise casino tournaments. Source: NCL — Casinos At Sea special events
(month only)
Progressive jackpots on MSC blackjack tables
Progressive jackpots added to 30 blackjack tables on seven US-based ships.
From MSC Cruises. Source: Cruise Industry News — MSC progressive table jackpots Reported
September 2026
Carnival Rewards launches
Carnival Rewards replaces the VIFP Club. Casino points left at the end of a sailing convert 1-for-1 into Carnival Rewards points, and casino play earns stars toward tier status. The first status earning window opens.
From Carnival Cruise Line. Source: Carnival — Carnival Rewards program terms
Virgin casino terms updated
Virgin's casino terms dated September 10 add a $200 casino-play deposit to casino cabin offers.
From Virgin Voyages. Source: Virgin Voyages — Casino and Sea Roller Rewards terms
BCSlots cruise on Discovery Princess (reported)
Slot creator Brian Christopher's BCSlots Cruises sail on Discovery Princess in Alaska. Reported, not from Princess.
From Princess Cruises. Source: CDC Gaming — BC Ventures and Princess slot cruises Reported
October 2026
(month only)
Players Invitational on Ruby Princess
Invitation-only casino cruises from San Francisco, with more than 200 prizes per sailing and a "Key to the Vault" grand prize.
From Princess Cruises. Source: Princess — Players Invitational
New Players Club perks and an October–September tier year
New perks for sailings from this date: Wi-Fi and a welcome gift for Gold; a VIP host, laundry, room service and Sail with Friends for Platinum. The terms now give an October–September tier year.
From Margaritaville at Sea. Source: Margaritaville at Sea — Casino Players Club benefits table and terms
BCSlots cruise on Enchanted Princess (reported)
Slot creator Brian Christopher's BCSlots Cruises sail on Enchanted Princess in the Mediterranean. Reported, not from Princess.
From Princess Cruises. Source: CDC Gaming — BC Ventures and Princess slot cruises Reported
November 2026
(month only)
Big Easy Slot Tournament
Part of Margaritaville's 2026 casino events calendar for Players Club members.
From Cruise casino tournaments. Source: Margaritaville at Sea — Casino events calendar
Tailgate slot tournament on Norwegian Viva
A tailgate-themed slot tournament sailing on Norwegian Viva.
From Norwegian Cruise Line. Source: NCL — Casinos At Sea special events
$1 Million Slot Tournament on Carnival Jubilee
A Tournament Series sailing with a $500,000 grand prize. Seats come through a Players Club offer, the "Open Access" offer or a first or second place in a qualifier; the price isn't published.
From Cruise casino tournaments. Source: Carnival — Players Club cruises: Tournaments
December 2026
$1 Million Takeover on Norwegian Joy
A $200,000 winner-take-all slot tournament, a $100,000 blackjack tournament and a poker main event.
From Norwegian Cruise Line. Source: NCL — Casinos At Sea special events
MSC World Asia first sailing
A seven-night sailing from Barcelona after delivery on November 25, 2026. Casino name, size and games aren't announced.
From New ship casinos 2026–2028. Source: MSC Press Area — MSC World Asia ready for December Mediterranean debut
Carnival Fun Match open through at least this date
Fun Match, open to US residents, considers status from other casinos when making offers. Only qualifiers hear back.
From Carnival Cruise Line. Source: Carnival — Fun Match terms
Princess Tier Match open through at least this date
US residents 21 and over can submit their best offer from a land casino or another cruise line (except Carnival). Matched offers carry a $200 non-refundable deposit per guest.
From Princess Cruises. Source: Princess — Tier Match
January 2027
(month only)
Beachcomber joins the fleet
Margaritaville's third ship, the former Costa Fortuna, starts its inaugural season from Miami. The line's deck plan labels a Margaritaville Casino.
From New ship casinos 2026–2028. Source: Margaritaville at Sea — Beachcomber
March 2027
Club Royale annual cruise: book and sail by
For the 2026–27 program year, the annual cruise (select ships and sailings of up to 7 nights; you pay taxes and fees) must be booked and sailed by this date.
From Royal Caribbean. Source: Royal Caribbean — Club Royale rewards program and benefits table
Club Royale program year ends
Last day of the April 2026–March 2027 program year. Tier Credits go back to zero on April 1, and your tier for April 2027–March 2028 is set from the credits you earned in this one.
From Program-year deadlines. Source: Royal Caribbean — Club Royale tiers FAQ
Casinos At Sea Rewards tier year ends
Last day of the April 2026–March 2027 tier year. Everyone starts at zero for tier purposes at 12 a.m. Eastern on April 1. Spendable points aren't wiped; they expire 18 months after they're earned.
From Program-year deadlines. Source: NCL — Casinos At Sea Rewards
April 2027
Sea Roller Rewards earning year ends
Last day of the May 2026–April 2027 earning year. Status points go back to zero on May 1. A tier reached in the year that ended lasts through April 30, 2027, Virgin's own example.
From Program-year deadlines. Source: Virgin Voyages — Casino and Sea Roller Rewards terms
May 2027
(month only)
Carnival Festivale begins sailing
From Port Canaveral. Carnival calls its casino the largest in the fleet, with smoking and non-smoking areas and the first $1 million slot progressive jackpot.
From Carnival Cruise Line. Source: Carnival — Carnival Festivale
Norwegian Aura first sailing
A 10-day voyage from Trieste to Athens (Piraeus); the ship homeports in Miami from June 2027. Casino details aren't announced.
From New ship casinos 2026–2028. Source: NCL — Two new inaugural Mediterranean sailings aboard Norwegian Aura
$1 Million Slot Tournament on Carnival Jubilee
A Tournament Series sailing with a $500,000 grand prize. Seats come through a Players Club offer, the "Open Access" offer or a first or second place in a qualifier; the price isn't published.
From Cruise casino tournaments. Source: Carnival — Players Club cruises: Tournaments
July 2027
Blue Chip Club annual cruise: book and sail by
For the 2026–27 year, the annual cruise (select ships and sailings; you pay taxes and fees) must be booked and sailed by this date.
From Celebrity Cruises. Source: Celebrity Cruises — Blue Chip Club
Blue Chip Club tier year ends
Last day of the August 2026–July 2027 year. Tier Credits go back to zero on August 1, and your tier for the next year is set from the credits you earned in this one. A cruise that begins in July and ends after August 1 counts toward this year.
From Program-year deadlines. Source: Celebrity Cruises — Blue Chip Club terms
August 2027
Hero of the Seas maiden voyage
Icon Class, sailing from Miami. Royal Caribbean's fact sheet lists Casino Royale; size, slots, tables and smoking rules are not announced.
From New ship casinos 2026–2028. Source: Royal Caribbean — Hero of the Seas fact sheet
September 2027
Casino Players Club tier year ends
Last day of the October 2026–September 2027 tier year. Tier Points reset on October 1. Reward Points are separate and expire 90 days after they're earned.
From Margaritaville at Sea. Source: Margaritaville at Sea — Casino Players Club benefits table and terms
November 2027
(month only)
MSC World Atlantic begins sailing
Sailings from Port Canaveral. Casino details aren't announced.
From New ship casinos 2026–2028. Source: MSC Press Area — Sales now open for MSC World Atlantic
$1 Million Slot Tournament on Carnival Festivale
A Tournament Series sailing with a $500,000 grand prize on Carnival's newest ship. Seats come through a Players Club offer, the "Open Access" offer or a qualifier.
From Cruise casino tournaments. Source: Carnival — Players Club cruises: Tournaments
December 2027
(month only)
Explora V sets sail
No deck plan or casino details yet. Explora has no casino rewards program.
From Explora Journeys. Source: Explora Journeys — Ships
March 2028
Club Royale program year ends
Last day of the April 2027–March 2028 program year, if Club Royale keeps its April–March year. Tier Credits go back to zero on April 1.
From Program-year deadlines. Source: Royal Caribbean — Club Royale tiers FAQ
Casinos At Sea Rewards tier year ends
Last day of the April 2027–March 2028 tier year, if Norwegian keeps its April–March year. Tier points reset at 12 a.m. Eastern on April 1.
From Program-year deadlines. Source: NCL — Casinos At Sea Rewards
April 2028
Carnival Tropicale first sailing
The last Excel Class ship, sailing from Galveston. Carnival hasn't published casino details.
From New ship casinos 2026–2028. Source: Carnival News — Carnival Tropicale reservations now open
Sea Roller Rewards earning year ends
Last day of the May 2027–April 2028 earning year, if Virgin keeps its May–April year. Status points go back to zero on May 1.
From Program-year deadlines. Source: Virgin Voyages — Casino and Sea Roller Rewards terms
May 2028
(month only)
Norwegian Bella begins sailing
Seven-day Mediterranean round trips from Barcelona. Casino details aren't announced.
From New ship casinos 2026–2028. Source: NCL — Norwegian Bella opens for sale
July 2028
Blue Chip Club tier year ends
Last day of the August 2027–July 2028 year, if Blue Chip Club keeps its August–July year. Tier Credits go back to zero on August 1.
From Program-year deadlines. Source: Celebrity Cruises — Blue Chip Club terms
August 2028
(month only)
Explora VI sets sail
No deck plan or casino details yet. Explora has no casino rewards program.
From Explora Journeys. Source: Explora Journeys — Ships
September 2028
Casino Players Club tier year ends
Last day of the October 2027–September 2028 tier year, if Margaritaville keeps its October–September year. Tier Points reset on October 1.
From Margaritaville at Sea. Source: Margaritaville at Sea — Casino Players Club benefits table and terms
December 2028
Carnival Rewards first status window ends
The first Carnival Rewards status earning window runs September 1, 2026 to December 31, 2028. Each Casino Point also earns a status Star.
From Program-year deadlines. Source: Carnival — Carnival Rewards program terms
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About the dates and the calendar file
What the calendar includes, what it leaves out and what the .ics file contains.
- Program-year ends are the last day before status points reset: March 31 for Club Royale and Casinos At Sea, April 30 for Sea Roller Rewards, July 31 for Blue Chip Club and September 30 for Margaritaville's Players Club. Carnival, Princess, MSC and Holland America count play per sailing, so they have no year-end date. Exact reset times are in program-year deadlines.
- Month-only events show the month and "(month only)". In the .ics file they are all-day events on the 1st of that month, with "(month only)" in the title and the description, so a calendar app can show them without suggesting a day the line hasn't announced.
- Multi-day events, such as a tournament sailing, are one all-day event from the first day to the last.
- The .ics file is made in your browser from the events shown, with nothing sent to us. Each event keeps the same ID every time you download it, so importing again updates it rather than adding a copy in most calendar apps. It has the description, our page and the line's source, and no reminders.
- Past events stay on the list, marked Past, because a recent rule change can still matter for your next booking. Tick "Hide past events" to see only what's ahead.
Not on the calendar
These new ships have only a year or a season announced, so they have no date to put on a calendar yet:
- Explora IV: summer 2027
- Celebrity Xcite: 2028
- Royal Caribbean's unnamed Oasis Class and Icon Class ships: 2028
Tournament schedules beyond the dated events here, and casino opening hours, depend on the ship and the sailing. See cruise casino tournaments and when cruise casinos open.
Play responsibly
A deadline isn't a reason to play. Before you chase a tier by a program year's end, price the play you'd still need as expected loss, the way the last weeks of a program year shows, and set a budget for the cruise before you board.
If gambling stops being fun
Call 1-800-GAMBLER, or the National Council on Problem Gambling's National Problem Gambling Helpline, 1-800-MY-RESET (call or text), for free, confidential help in the US.
Sources
Each event names its own source next to it. The calendar is drawn from these Slots at Sea pages, which list every source they use with the date it was checked:
- Slots at Sea — Program-year deadlines (program years, resets, annual-cruise deadlines, Carnival Rewards' first window)
- Slots at Sea — Cruise casino tournaments (dated tournament sailings)
- Slots at Sea — New ship casinos 2026–2028 (first sailings)
- Slots at Sea cruise line pages, "What's changed" and rewards sections: Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Carnival, Norwegian, Virgin Voyages, MSC, Princess, Holland America, Margaritaville at Sea, Explora Journeys
- National Council on Problem Gambling — National Problem Gambling Helpline (accessed Oct 22, 2026)
- IETF — RFC 5545, Internet Calendaring and Scheduling (iCalendar) (the .ics format; accessed Oct 22, 2026)