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This luxury cruise line is adding casinos to its ships ... again

June 25, 2024
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4 min read
Crystal Cruises Symphony in Sydney
This luxury cruise line is adding casinos to its ships ... again
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Pack your four-leaf clover, a rabbit’s foot and a pair of lucky dice. Luxury cruise line Crystal is bringing casinos back to its ships less than a year after removing them.

The line has partnered with Monte-Carlo Societe des Bains de Mer to bring Casino de Monte-Carlo locations to sea, featuring 1,000 square feet of gaming that includes slots, blackjack, roulette and more.

“We are delighted to welcome Casino de Monte-Carlo into the Crystal family as our newest collaborator,” Manfredi Lefebvre, executive chairman of the A&K Travel Group, which owns Crystal, said. “This affiliation symbolizes our commitment to offering our guests the finest entertainment and gaming experiences available at sea.”

Cruise line and casino executives sitting at a table signing a contract
Cristina Levis, CEO of Crystal Cruises and Pascal Camia, Chief International Development Officer of Monte-Carlo Societe des Bains de Mer, surrounded by Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio, Executive Chairman of the A&K Travel Group and Stephane Valeri, Chairman and CEO of Monte-Carlo Societe des Bains de Mer. CRYSTAL

A&K Travel Group purchased Crystal Cruises’ intellectual property and two of its ships — Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity — after its parent company, Genting, went out of business in early 2022 due to fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Crystal Cruises was then rebranded as, simply, Crystal. Its ships underwent extensive refurbishment, including the removal of their casinos to make way for card lounges, before returning to service in 2023.

“We have listened attentively to the feedback from our loyal guests regarding their desire to have casinos back onboard, and we are proud to announce that we will deliver on our promise,” Cristina Levis, CEO of A&K Travel Group, said. “We are confident the reintroduction of casinos will further enhance the overall cruise experience, providing our guests with the entertainment options they crave while sailing with us.”

The first revamped casino will debut on Crystal Symphony during the Chairmen’s Cruise, scheduled to depart Nov. 14 from Venice, Italy. Crystal Serenity’s casino will debut the following month.

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Each casino will take the place of its respective ship’s Bridge Lounge. On 606-passenger Crystal Symphony, the Bridge Lounge will relocate to The Lounge, where the previous casino was positioned. The Bridge Lounge on 740-passenger Crystal Serenity will move to the onboard library, which will become both a space to read and play cards.

Excluding expedition vessels, Casino de Monte-Carlo locations will also be on any new ships added to the fleet, including the two new builds it has ordered. The line will also add two expedition ships by the end of the decade.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

Featured image by CRYSTAL
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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