Casino Cruise Review

Casino Cruise Review Introduction

As we can see in this Casino Cruise review, their website features a design found on an ever-growing fleet of online casino platforms, namely: full-screen layouts, large thumbnails, suspiciously familiar menu symbols, and a rather tiresome journey/adventure concept. Mercifully, the designers have decided to batten down the hatches when it comes to ocean-going clichés (not that that will stop us). So apart from the enormous promo header, with its simpering twenty-something ‘passengers’, as well as some faded deck timbers, nautical visuals are kept to a minimum. As a result, the site looks understated and professional, if not a little trite.

Casino Cruise Bonus and Promotions

Casino Cruise orders its visitors to ‘sit back, relax and enjoy the onboard service…with an unmissable welcome bonus’. However, we’d politely venture that this depends entirely on the ‘passenger’s’ ability to stomach the particulars of said bonus. Hailed as a $1000 + 200 free spin welcome offer, it’s set out over a player’s first four deposits:

• First Deposit = 100% Match Bonus Up to $200 + 200 Free Spins
• Second Deposit = 50% Match Up to $200. Bonus Code: WCRUISE2
• Third Deposit = 25% Up to $300. Bonus Code: WCRUISE3
• Fourth Deposit = 25% Up to $300. Bonus Code: WCRUISE4

The 200 free spins, which only apply to Starburst, are divvied out in twenties for the ten days following a first deposit so players don’t actually receive them in one hit. While this is by no means a disaster at sea, the 40x wagering rules cause the good ship, Casino Cruise, to list ever so slightly to starboard. Although the generous welcome package isn’t exactly water-tight, Casino Cruise also includes a few minor promotions to keep people interested:

• Monday Breeze
• Tuesday Pool Party
• Weekend Freebie
• Monthly Splash Bonus
• Emoticons
• Win a Cruise

For the Monday Breeze promo, players receive a 50% reload bonus up to $100 as well as 20 free spins. However, this depends on two caveats which helpfully, are only mentioned in the T&Cs. At least two deposits have to have been made the previous week and they must also amount to $50. So it’s not exactly a Monday breeze – more of a zephyr actually. Still, the wagering rules aren’t too bad at all and stand at 40. The Tuesday Pool Party offer is explained in a cunningly worded slab of casino-speak which offers a prime example of how online casinos can subtly mislead their customers. The opening lines of their promo spiel proclaim that players are able to ‘get up to $100 bonus cash’ on Tuesday deposits. Now at first glance, this would appear attractive. After all, $100 bonus cash isn’t to be sniffed at. However, a few sentences further on, and the actual deal is revealed: 25% will be awarded to players depositing $100. So the ‘get up to 100% bonus cash’ bilge, should really read ‘get a 25% bonus of up to $100’. Although Casino Cruise does elaborate on their cheeky opening gambit, they’re clearly relying on people to scan-read their offer and take it at face value. And this, ladies and gentlemen, is how some casinos ply their trade – by making use of ambiguity and double-speak in order to reel (pun not intended) new players in. So if you do decide to ‘join the pool party’, be sure to check what the pool is filled with before diving in. Casino Cruise also features a promotion on the EmotiCoins pokie which seems to be popping up all over the place at the moment. Gamers who play through $10 are entered into a $10,000 cash prize draw. The good news here is the lack of any wagering requirements. And finally, there’s the cruise prize draw that awards tickets for every $50 deposited. Winners are treated to a 4-day Mediterranean cruise aboard the luxury liner, MSC Musicia. The trip includes the following accommodation:

• Private balcony with views of the ocean
• Stylish stateroom accommodation
• Free room service delivery including breakfast in bed
• Priority seating for evening dinner

These promotions were correct at the time of writing the review. Please check the Casino Cruise website for up-to-date promotions. Full promotional terms and conditions apply.

Casino Cruise Games

Thanks to their numerous partnerships with leading software providers, Casino Cruise features an expansive range of pokies and traditional table games. They’re organized under the following categories:

• All Games
• Jackpot Games
• Live Games
• New Games
• Popular Games
• Table Games
• Other Games
• Video Poker
• Video Pokies
• Classic Pokies
• Game Providers

Where possible, the games can be played for fun with both practice and real money versions opening on a new page. On desktops, when leaving the game page, with its embedded Flash game window, you’re returned to the top of the game lobby. This is extremely irksome, especially if you were three-quarters of the way down the page.

Casino Cruise Pokies

Casino Cruise’s selection of casino pokies is also extensive and includes well-known titles such as Starburst, Tarzan, and Fairytale Legends: Red Riding Hood. In addition to the latest games, Cruise also features a huge collection of classic pokies. This particular section is a veritable rogue’s gallery of dated, often hideous-looking games which, for some reason, many gamers seem to enjoy. What is it with retro? Whatever your opinion, the range of casino games available on the Casino Cruise website cannot be faulted.

Live Dealer Games

The Casino Cruise live section is populated with the usual sirens (female croupiers) beckoning hapless visitors to their game tables. Thankfully, players won’t need to tie themselves to the ship’s mast, because the Cruise’s live offering is powered by esteemed software providers Netent and Microgaming. It’s also an instant play live casino so now download is required. Every game is available 24/7 as well.

Casino Cruise App and Mobile

The Casino Cruise mobile website bears more than a passing resemblance to its desktop cousin, employing the same dark colour scheme and layout. Although certain elements have been slimmed down in order to accommodate the reduced processing power of smaller devices, the overall experience is very similar. While there are only some 200 casino games to play on mobile, compared to 1200 on the main website, this should be more than enough for gamblers on the go. The site also renders well on tablets and offers a seamless, intuitive game experience.

VIP Scheme

Casino Cruise promises to offer their faithful customers a VIP scheme ‘beyond their wildest dreams’. So it was with some interest that we decided to peer below the waterline as it were. Their package is structured in three tiers:

• Deluxe Suite “25% extra” – personalized email support, exclusive promotions, birthday bonuses, 12 hour response time
• Royal Suite “50% extra” – exclusive VIP events, personal VIP account manager, personal gifts, higher withdrawal amounts
• President Suite “100% extra” – exclusive ‘Presidential’ withdrawals, personal cashback, exclusive structures

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to ascertain what the above percentages actually represent. The VIP section is based on a typically tight-fisted points system that awards players with a point for every $10 they spend which can then be redeemed for various gifts and perks. This is of course provided that it’s deposited on a pokie game. For other games, points are weighted as follows:

• 1 point = $15 on classic pokies
• 1 point = $50 on table games
• 1 point = $50 on live dealer games

We really could rail against Casino Cruise’s VIP offer, especially considering that the minimum amount for conversion is 1000 points. But this is actually a fairly typical points system in the casino industry, geared towards high-rollers who play casino games as much as they inhale oxygen.

Customer Support

Casino Cruise’s level of customer support is solid with a detailed section of frequently asked questions. Live chat and multiple email addresses are also provided as well as two telephone numbers. However, an email form is not included and there’s no mention of the hours in which their support teamwork.

Casino Cruise Review Summary

In conclusion, Casino Cruise is a casino like most others. Their welcome bonuses and VIP package are pretty standard as are the weekly promotions which are reassuringly compromised by the T&Cs. Nevertheless, the live section is outstanding, save for its rather chaotic layout, while the port over to smaller devices has been brilliantly realised. Those looking to embark on a ‘journey’ with this lot should however exercise a degree of caution when reading up on the cleverly-worded promotions. Remember to read the small print and you’ll be fine. Otherwise, your gaming budget may disappear under the waves as swiftly as a Spanish Galleon with woodworm.