Carnival Celebration Empress Casino Guide: Location, Smoking, Hours & Players Club
The Empress Casino is the main casino aboard Carnival Celebration, with slot machines and popular table games including blackjack and roulette. Located on Deck 7 forward, it is one of the ship’s major indoor entertainment venues and is integrated with Carnival’s Players Club program.
The screenshots below were taken from Carnival’s HUB App during a Carnival Celebration sailing and provide a useful look at the casino information available onboard, including its location, smoking rules, operating schedule, casino manager, Players Club information and one of the casino promotions offered during the cruise.
For more Carnival information, CruisePrism readers can also explore our Carnival Dining Menus, Carnival Drink Lists, and Carnival Onboard Guides for more information about restaurants, schedules and onboard activities.
Where Is the Casino on Carnival Celebration?
The Empress Casino is located on Deck 7 forward aboard Carnival Celebration.
The Carnival HUB App identifies the location as:
Empress Casino, 7 Fwd
The casino occupies a large portion of the forward section of Deck 7. The onboard map shown in the app provides a useful reference for passengers trying to find the casino once onboard.
What Games Are Available at Empress Casino?
Carnival describes the Empress Casino as offering both table games and slot machines. The information displayed in the HUB App specifically mentions blackjack and roulette along with the ship’s selection of slots.
Passengers who gamble should bring their Sail & Sign card. Carnival uses the card to track casino play and award Carnival Players Club points.
Carnival’s current Players Club rules state that casino points are earned while playing eligible games. For slot machines, players earn one casino point for every $2 of coin-in, while video poker earns one point for every $5 of coin-in. Table-game ratings are based on factors including the game being played, average wager and length of play.
Is Smoking Allowed in the Carnival Celebration Casino?
Yes, but smoking is restricted to designated areas.
The Carnival HUB App information shown during this sailing states:
“Permitted during open hours while playing at designated slot machines and table games.”
Carnival’s published smoking policy confirms that cigarette smoking, including electronic cigarettes and personal vaporizers, is permitted in designated portions of the Empress Casino only while a passenger is seated and actively playing.
Smoking is not permitted at the casino bar, in the designated non-smoking section or throughout the casino when it is closed.
This is an important distinction for passengers researching whether Carnival Celebration has a smoking or non-smoking casino. The Empress Casino contains designated smoking and non-smoking areas rather than allowing smoking throughout the entire venue.
Carnival Celebration Casino Hours
Casino hours depend heavily on the ship’s itinerary and whether Carnival Celebration is at sea or in port.
The HUB App screenshot provides a good example. During this particular portion of the sailing, the schedule showed:
• RelaxAway at Half Moon Cay – Until late
• Celebration Key – After Sail Away to late
• Miami – Closed
This illustrates why passengers should check the Carnival HUB App each day rather than assuming the casino follows identical hours throughout the cruise.
Casinos generally cannot operate while the ship is in certain ports, so operating times can change depending on the daily itinerary. On the Celebration Key day shown here, for example, the app indicated that Empress Casino would open after sail away.
Carnival Players Club on Carnival Celebration
Casino play aboard Carnival Celebration is connected to the Carnival Players Club.
The Carnival HUB App provides a dedicated casino section where passengers can see information including:
• Carnival Players Club Points
• FunPlay balance
• Gaming Wallet balance
• Players Club account information
• Casino events and promotions
Your Sail & Sign card serves as your Carnival Players Club identification onboard. Slot players insert their card into the machine, while table-game players should present their card to the dealer so their play can be rated.
Carnival does not issue a separate Players Club card.
Carnival Casino Points
Casino points are based on actual gambling activity rather than simply the amount of time spent inside the casino.
Carnival currently awards:
• Slot machines – 1 casino point for every $2 coin-in
• Video poker – 1 casino point for every $5 coin-in
• Table games – Points based on the game, average bet and duration of play
“Coin-in” is the total amount wagered through a machine and should not be confused with the amount of cash initially deposited.
For example, putting $100 into a slot machine does not automatically produce 50 casino points. The amount must actually be wagered through the machine.
Carnival states that casino play can lead to benefits and comps depending on the player’s level of activity.
Gaming Wallet and Player Bank
Carnival uses a cashless system for slot-machine winnings and balances.
Players can insert cash into machines, but balances and winnings are handled through the Player Bank system. Those funds can be accessed again for additional slot play during regular casino hours.
Passengers should remember to cash out remaining winnings at the Casino Cashier’s Desk by the final night of the cruise.
The Carnival HUB App also displays a Gaming Wallet balance, making the casino section of the app useful for keeping track of gaming information during the sailing.
Casino Promotions and Events
The Carnival HUB App also displays casino events and promotions taking place during the cruise.
One promotion visible during this Carnival Celebration sailing was “500X The Cash.”
The promotion advertised the possibility of winning up to $500,000 and stated that scratch-off tickets were available for purchase at the casino cashier’s desk. The event listing showed:
• Location – Empress Casino, Deck 7 Forward
• Time – 10:00 a.m. until late
Casino promotions can vary by cruise, so passengers should check the current sailing in the Carnival HUB App rather than assuming the same promotion will be available on a future voyage.
Empress Casino Manager
At the time these screenshots were taken, the Carnival HUB App listed Glenn Conceição as the Casino Manager.
Casino personnel can change between contracts and sailings, so this information should be considered specific to the sailing shown rather than permanent information about Carnival Celebration.
Using the Carnival HUB App for Casino Information
The HUB App is particularly useful for casino passengers because operating hours and events can change from one day to the next.
Once onboard, passengers can use the casino section to check information such as current casino hours, Players Club points, gaming balances, promotions and the casino’s location.
For passengers planning their onboard activities around dining, entertainment, shore excursions and casino time, checking the daily schedule in the app is the easiest way to see when the casino is scheduled to operate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the casino called on Carnival Celebration?
The casino aboard Carnival Celebration is called the Empress Casino.
What deck is the Carnival Celebration casino on?
Empress Casino is located on Deck 7 forward.
Does Carnival Celebration have slot machines?
Yes. Empress Casino has slot machines as well as table games.
Does Carnival Celebration have blackjack and roulette?
Yes. Carnival specifically lists blackjack and roulette among the table games available in its casino description.
Can you smoke in the Carnival Celebration casino?
Smoking is permitted only in designated areas of Empress Casino while guests are seated and actively playing. The casino also has a designated non-smoking section. Smoking is not permitted at the casino bar or when the casino is closed.
Is the Carnival Celebration casino open while the ship is in port?
Not necessarily. Casino operating hours depend on the ship’s location and itinerary. The HUB App screenshot from this sailing, for example, showed the casino closed in Miami and opening after sail away from Celebration Key.
How do you earn Carnival casino points?
Carnival currently awards one casino point for every $2 coin-in on slots and one point for every $5 coin-in on video poker. Table-game points depend on factors including the game, average bet and duration of play.
Do I need a separate Carnival Players Club card?
No. Your Sail & Sign card is used for the Carnival Players Club.
Where can I see my casino information onboard?
The Carnival HUB App includes a casino section showing information such as Players Club points, FunPlay, Gaming Wallet balances and casino events.
Are casino promotions the same on every Carnival Celebration cruise?
No. Promotions and casino events can vary by sailing. The “500X The Cash” promotion shown in these screenshots is an example from this particular cruise and should not be considered guaranteed for other sailings.
Final Thoughts
Empress Casino is a major entertainment venue aboard Carnival Celebration, occupying a prominent location on Deck 7 forward and offering both slot machines and traditional table games.
For anyone planning to gamble during a Carnival Celebration cruise, the Carnival HUB App is worth checking each day. It provides current operating hours, casino events, Players Club information and other useful details that can change throughout the itinerary.
The most important things to remember are that casino hours vary depending on the ship’s location, smoking is restricted to designated gaming areas, and passengers should use their Sail & Sign card while playing if they want their casino activity tracked through the Carnival Players Club.
