If you’re a kid, there’s nothing that quite has the draw of an arcade. From the flashing lights to the chance to have some fun away from parents, the arcade is a paradise for kids and teens.
And if you’re a parent on a cruise? The attraction of the arcade is even stronger. There’s no better place to let the kids have some freedom for an hour or two. After all, you likely didn’t book a cruise so that you could babysit the kids for a week straight.
Or if you want to have a kid-focused activity, it’s a great way to spend some time with your child doing something they want to do.
So if you’re wondering what you can expect from a cruise ship arcade, we have details on the games available, how they work and how much they cost.
Cruise Ship Arcades Overview & And Where to Find Them
Cruise arcades have come a long way from having a few quarter machines tucked into a random corner of the ship. While the arcade is rarely as busy as other places on the ship (such as the casino), there has been an investment into the arcades on a cruise.
What you’ll usually find is that the arcade is still tucked away, but on a main deck — usually near places for teenagers on the ship like the teen nightclub. The entrance isn’t going to be as big and open as you’d see with the casino, so you might have to hunt for it a little or consult the ship’s map. For instance, the arcade on the Carnival Valor is a small entrance near the dance club:
Today’s arcades look a lot different than parents might remember. Simple games like Pac-Man are out. The games today are a whole lot more complex and look almost like slot machines than video games. When you walk in, be prepared to feel a little overwhelmed!
Expect a wide variety of games. There are often a few traditional games like Ski-Ball or air hockey, but they have a decidedly new look. There are also racing games, shooting games, puzzle games, and lots of skill cranes in which you try to scoop up a prize. Another popular genre are coin-pusher games and virtual reality games (where you wear a headset) are also booming.
While there are games for all ages, most of the games are aimed at bigger kids. If you have a small child that wants to play in the arcade then — depending on the ship — you aren’t likely to find a ton of games geared toward their age range.
How Do You Pay for Games?
If it’s been awhile since you’ve last visited an arcade, you might be surprised by two things — the cost and the technology.
Gone are the days of taking a roll of quarters to play for a few hours. On the cruise ship, everything is handled through your room keycard — just like if you were to make a purchase in the gift shop. Anything you spend will appear on your onboard account.
Most often, to play you just swipe your card. It charges your account and begins play. If you play a game that earns tickets, they usually no longer dispense from the game, but are automatically credited to your card.
There are also some lines that offer credits that you prepurchase
In other words, to play you only need you card for the onboard account. No cash or tickets are required.
How Expensive Is It to Play? Are There Discounts?
There’s no way around it, playing in the cruise arcade is expensive. Prices will obviously vary, but expect the cheapest games to be around $1.50-$2.00. That may not seem like much, but considering a game takes only a couple of minutes to play at most — or in the case of skill cranes, just 30 seconds or less — then it can add up in a hurry.
Some games are considerably more, usually depending on how tech-heavy they are. For instance, the virtual reality games tend to be more expensive than traditional arcade games.
Looking for a deal? If you’re strategic, you can get discounts. Some cruise lines like Carnival offer a “happy hour” where games are discounted heavily, making it cheaper to play during that time.
Some lines also sell packages where you can buy credits for a discount to what it would cost if you simply paid by the game.
If you know you’ll spend some time in the arcade, then taking advantage can save you a lot of money.
Final Thoughts
Like most things on a cruise ship, the arcade is pretty good considering it’s aboard a floating vessel traveling the world. It’s not as large or impressive as you’d find at Dave and Buster’s or a similar hangout, but you wouldn’t expect it.
It’s a great place for kids and teens to spend a few hours. Just be sure to set spending limits because the costs can add up quickly.
