Emerald Princess Casino Cruise: What to Know Before You Board

Georgia's Only Casino — and You Have to Sail to Get There

Georgia doesn't allow land-based casinos. That single fact is why the Emerald Princess II exists. To operate a legal casino in Georgia, the ship has to sail into federal waters — past the three-mile limit where state gambling laws no longer apply. So the casino opens once the vessel clears the line, and closes again on the return. It's the only way this particular game gets played in this particular state, and it's been running from Brunswick since 2001.

For anyone driving up from Jacksonville Beach or St. Augustine, it's about 90 minutes north on I-95, then a short run on US-17 to the dock at the base of the Sidney Lanier Bridge. The address is 1 Emerald Princess Drive — take the Jekyll Island Causeway turnoff and bear immediately left before the towers. Parking is plentiful and free.

The ship is a 200-foot, four-deck vessel — two casino decks below, a dining room on the third floor, and an open-air observation deck on top. The crew is consistently the highlight. On every sailing, the guides, dealers, and hosts come recommended by name in reviews dating back years. They run bingo, they work the floor, they keep the energy up on a ship that could otherwise feel like a slow Tuesday in Atlantic City. They are, by any fair assessment, what makes this work.

The Casino Itself

Two decks of gaming cover the lower half of the ship. Slots dominate — over 220 machines ranging from penny slots up through higher denominations. The table game selection is solid for a vessel this size: blackjack, craps, two roulette wheels, Texas Hold'Em, and Emerald Princess Stud Poker. Dealers are professional and patient with players who don't know every rule cold.

The honest picture: this is not the Bellagio. The decor runs toward 1990s cruise ship rather than Vegas modern, and the smoke — more on that in a moment — is the dominant sensory experience on the casino decks. But the machines work, the dealers run clean games, and if you come to gamble rather than to be impressed by the fixtures, you'll find what you're looking for.

The Meal, the Dining Room, and the Top Deck

Your $25 ticket includes a meal. The dining room sits on the third floor with windows on both sides and no cigarette smoke. The food is honest buffet — not a culinary event, but good enough. Reviewers who go in expecting a hot meal rather than a restaurant experience consistently leave satisfied. Fried chicken on Sundays gets mentioned. The soft drinks are included; alcohol is available at the bar and priced accordingly.

The top deck is open air. When the weather cooperates, it's the best spot on the ship — sea breeze, views of the Georgia coast and the marsh, and the occasional dolphin working the wake. Bring a jacket. Even on warm days, being on the water with a breeze running can drop the temperature significantly, and the air conditioning on the lower decks runs cold by design. First-time visitors who didn't pack a layer are reliably cold before the cruise ends.

What the Crew Doesn't Tell You But Should

Weather Changes Everything

The Emerald Princess operates at the mercy of the sea. The schedule posts on the website, but that schedule can shorten, delay, or cancel on short notice when conditions aren't right. In July 2025, a reviewer called ahead, was told the ship was sailing, drove to the dock, boarded — and then sat at the dock for an extended period while a "repair issue" was resolved, with the ship never leaving. Call the morning of your cruise: (800) 842-0115. If conditions look uncertain, call again an hour before departure.

Seasickness Is Real

This is not a large ocean liner. The Emerald Princess is 200 feet and designed for inland and coastal waters, but when it hits open water in rough conditions, it moves. Motion sickness medication taken before boarding — not after you start feeling it — is the correct strategy. Dramamine or Bonine, taken an hour before the cruise, makes the difference between a good day and a miserable one. The crew suggests cooler temperatures help; the observation deck gets the most fresh air.

Board Early If You Can

Early boarding isn't always guaranteed — some trips allow it, others don't. When it's available, take it. It gives you time to get oriented, pick your machines, find a table seat in the dining room before the rush, and settle in before the casino opens. Arriving 20–30 minutes before the scheduled departure is the minimum; arriving 45 minutes out gives you options.

Reservations Are Not Optional

Technically walk-up boarding exists. In practice, the ship fills, and reservations not claimed 30 minutes before sailing are released. Book through the form at emeraldprincesscasino.com or call ahead. Prepayment is not required for standard sailings — you pay at boarding.

No Pets

Service animals aside, no pets are allowed aboard. This wasn't clearly communicated dockside when we asked, but the answer is no.