Sportsbooks and cruise ship companies have embarked on an exciting partnership to bring sports betting and iGaming experiences to passengers at sea. This collaboration, featuring major players like BetMGM and Carnival Corporation, is revolutionizing the entertainment landscape on cruise ships by integrating sports betting into the travel experience.

Let’s delve into the details of these partnerships, the ships involved, and the future of sports betting on the high seas.

BetMGM and Carnival Corporation Partnership

On Tuesday, July 9th, Grenada welcomed Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas, which brought much-needed supplies, including 15 tons of fuel, to help with recovery after Hurricane Beryl. The cruise ship, carrying 2,416 passengers, usually sails seven-day Southern Caribbean trips from San Juan. However, it changed its route to provide humanitarian aid to those in need.

Last week, a tragic event occurred on the cruise ship Celebrity Infinity. A 45-year-old crew member from Indonesia was found dead in his cabin. The discovery was made while the ship was sailing between the Greek ports of Thessaloniki and Kavala.

The ship’s officers informed local authorities about the incident, and upon arriving in Kavala, the crew member's body was transferred to the medical examiner in Komotini for a necropsy, according to Greek news outlets.

AIDA Cruises is launching the biggest fleet upgrade in its history, called AIDA Evolution. By 2026, the first three ships in the Sphinx series will undergo extensive modernization. The first ship to be revamped is the AIDAdiva, which will be in the Chantier Naval shipyard in Marseille, France, from February 3 to March 22, 2025. Next up, AIDAluna will be in the shipyard from October 22 to December 10, 2025, and AIDAbella will follow from January 21 to March 11, 2026.

A fire broke out today, June 25th, aboard the world's largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, while the vessel was docked at the port of Costa Maya, Mexico. According to our source, a Bravo code was announced on the ship's PA system, locating the fire in the engine room. Firefighting teams were dispatched to the scene to handle the situation, and the crew responded to the emergency instructions.

Virgin Voyages has announced the first sailings for its new ship, Brilliant Lady, after some delays. The fourth ship joining Virgin Voyages fleet will start its journeys next year, offering longer sailings of up to 14 nights from various US ports. Initially planned to start in December this year, it will now begin in 2025 from ports like New York City, Miami, Los Angeles, and Seattle.

This summer, AIDA Cruises' fleet will offer live broadcasts of the official UEFA European Championship games, happening in Germany from June 14 to July 14. Passengers on all AIDA cruise ships will have the opportunity to watch every minute of the matches, even while at sea, thanks to satellite technology. Football broadcasts will be shown on both the public screens throughout the ships and in cabins TVs.