Bring along your four-leaf clover, rabbit’s foot, and lucky dice. Crystal, the luxury cruise line, is reintroducing casinos to its ships less than a year after their removal.
The company has collaborated with Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer to introduce Casino de Monte-Carlo venues on their ships, offering 1,000 square feet of gaming area that includes slot machines, blackjack, roulette, and additional games.
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“We are thrilled to welcome Casino de Monte-Carlo into the Crystal family as our newest partner,” said Manfredi Lefebvre, executive chairman of the A&K Travel Group, which owns Crystal. “This partnership represents our dedication to providing our guests with the highest quality entertainment and gaming experiences available at sea.”
A&K Travel Group acquired the intellectual property of Crystal Cruises along with two vessels, Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, following the bankruptcy of their parent company Genting in early 2022, attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. Subsequently, Crystal Cruises was renamed simply as Crystal. The ships underwent major renovations, which included converting their casinos into card lounges, and resumed operations in 2023.
“We have carefully considered the feedback from our valued guests about their wish to have casinos onboard again, and we are excited to announce that we will fulfill our promise,” stated Cristina Levis, CEO of A&K Travel Group. “We are confident that the return of casinos will enhance the cruise experience even more, offering our guests the entertainment options they desire while traveling with us.”
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The first revamped casino will launch on the Crystal Symphony during the Chairmen’s Cruise, which is set to depart on November 15 from Venice, Italy. The casino on the Crystal Serenity will be unveiled the following month.
Each casino will replace its ship’s Bridge Lounge. On the 606-passenger Crystal Symphony, the Bridge Lounge will move to The Lounge, the former casino location. The Bridge Lounge on the 740-passenger Crystal Serenity will shift to the onboard library, creating a combined space for reading and card playing.
Excluding expedition vessels, Casino de Monte-Carlo will be featured on all new ships added to the fleet, including the two new constructions it has commissioned. The company is also planning to add two expedition ships by the end of the decade.
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