🎰 Sun Princess Casino Review (2026): Smoke Levels, Slots, Video Poker & My Real Experience
By Julie Davis — NoPointLeftBehind.net This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting No Point Left Behind — it helps me keep creating free cruise guides, hacks, and travel resources.
🌅 First Impressions: Gorgeous… With One Big Drawback
The Sun Princess casino is bright, modern, and honestly stunning — a huge glow‑up compared to older Princess ships. New machines, sleek layout, high energy, and a very Vegas‑style feel.
But let’s get straight to the part you actually need to know:
👉 Sun Princess is not a non‑smoking casino. And the “non‑smoking” area is tiny — more of a walkway than a real section.
If you’re sensitive to smoke, have asthma (like I do), or simply prefer a cleaner environment, this casino may be challenging.
🌬️ The Smoke Situation: My Honest Take (Especially With Asthma)
Princess advertises a non‑smoking side, but on Sun Princess it’s extremely small. Every time I walked through it, I came out smelling like smoke.
I’m not anti‑smoker — truly, enjoy your vacation — but I don’t smoke, and because of my asthma, I found it hard to breathe in the casino. Even early in the day, smoke drifted everywhere.
I tried playing pre‑lunch a few days, but the moment smoke got too close, I left. There simply isn’t a fully smoke‑free zone, and that’s a real limitation.
If smoke sensitivity is part of your cruise planning, here’s my full Princess Casino Players Club Guide — including how I still earn offers with light play.
💸 My Casino Budget vs. Reality on Sun Princess
I boarded ready to play. I had budgeted $400–$500 — my normal “fun money” on Princess. I love casinos. I love the vibe, the games, the little thrill of video poker and penny slots.
But this sailing?
👉 I barely used any of that budget.
Not because I didn’t want to play — I absolutely did — but because the smoke made it unenjoyable. I couldn’t stay long enough to play the way I normally do.
I ended up spending $170 total, earning 200 points, and tapping out early because the environment just wasn’t comfortable.
If you want to see how little I actually spend to earn casino offers, here’s how much I really spend in the casino.
🎰 Slots & Video Poker: What’s Actually Available
Sun Princess has a good mix of:
newer penny slots
older “classic” machines
multi‑game machines
themed slots
video poker
Newer Penny Slots
They had plenty of newer penny slots — and I love those — but I never do well on them. I sat down, played for a few minutes, and $50 disappeared fast. Classic penny‑slot behavior. The dopamine rush is real, and I try to avoid it because I like them too much!
“Non‑Smoking Side” Machines
The non‑smoking side had:
higher‑stake “old school” machines
mostly $1 minimums
not the 25‑cent machines I prefer
Video Poker
There were two video poker areas:
one on the smoking side
one that looked non‑smoking… but wasn’t
This really limited my play because:
I prefer low‑stake video poker
I can’t stay in smoky areas long
there’s no true smoke‑free zone
If you want to stretch your bankroll on Princess ships, here’s my Princess Casino Strategy Guide with real play data.
🔊 Machine Noise & Atmosphere
The machines were VERY loud — but I finally figured out how to turn the sound down. After how many hours in casinos over the years? Yep… that one’s on me.
Overall vibe:
busy
loud
smoky
energetic
not super social
If you’re sensitive to smoke or noise, this casino will be tough.
🕒 Casino Hours on Sun Princess
The casino opens about an hour after leaving port and stays open on sea days. I was playing at 10 AM one morning — early hours are definitely the least smoky.
🚢 Sun Princess vs. Majestic Princess Casino
On Majestic Princess, the casino felt:
more open
better ventilated
easier for non‑smokers
On Sun Princess, the casino is:
more modern
more compact
more smoky
less comfortable for sensitive players
🌬️ Final Thoughts: Great Machines, But Not Great for Non‑Smokers
The Sun Princess casino has:
modern machines
good variety
plenty of video poker
a lively atmosphere
But the smoking situation is a real limitation. If Princess ever creates a true non‑smoking side, this casino would be fantastic. Right now, it’s only great if you’re okay with smoke.
If you want to cruise on casino offers without heavy gambling, here’s my Cruise for (Almost) Free: Princess Casino Offers.
❓ FAQ: Sun Princess Casino (2026)
Is the Sun Princess casino smoke‑free? No — only a tiny section is designated non‑smoking, and smoke drifts throughout.
Are there penny slots? Yes — newer ones too — but they drain your bankroll fast. See my Truth About How Much I Really Spend in the Casino
Is there video poker? Yes, but none of it is truly non‑smoking. If smoke is a concern, compare with Majestic Princess.
What time does the casino open? About an hour after leaving port; open all day on sea days.
💼 Planning a Princess Casino Cruise?
These guides pair perfectly with this review:
👩🏼💻 About the Author
Hi, I’m Julie — travel‑hacking content creator, cruise reviewer, and iced‑coffee‑loving Lazy Girl behind NoPointLeftBehind.net. I sail Princess Cruises 4–5 times a year and specialize in Europe cruise ports, cruise strategy, and vibe‑based travel planning.
If you love Princess casino tips, real deal examples, and behind‑the‑scenes cruise planning, come hang out with me on Facebook — it’s where I share everything first.
👯♀️ Join My Facebook Group
Daily Princess tips, casino offer wins, menu screenshots, and real‑time Q&A.
📣 Follow My Facebook Page
Sun Princess updates, OceanNow screenshots, casino reviews, and new blog posts.
🎰 See My Real Princess Casino Deals
If you want to see the exact cruises I’ve booked using light casino play — including Alaska for $325 and Majestic Princess for under $450 — here are the real examples:
