Each of the four newer Celebrity ships -- Mlllennium, Summit, Constellation and Infinity -- boasts a Fortunes Casino, which features 5 blackjack tables, 2 three card poker, 1 Caribbean stud poker and 1 Texas Hold 'em table, 1 craps table, 2 roulette tables, and some 200 slots.

The casino ambience is excellent, though the number of players tends to diminish rapidly after midnight, and the casinos generally are closed for lack of players before 3 a.m.

The Fortunes Casinos on three slightly smaller Celebrity ships -- Mercury, Century and Galaxy -- are almost the same, with one fewer poker table and a couple dozen fewer slots.

One new development at Celebrity will come as a very positive surprise to cruising dice players, who have long complained that cruise ships do not offer good "odds" bets at the craps table.

Celebrity now offers odds that are consistent with those found in most major Las Vegas casinos -- 3x on the 4 and 10, 4x on the 5 and 9, and 5x on the 6 and 8 points.

For high rollers, Celebrity Cruises also is continuing to develop its Blue Chip Club -- an invitation-only players club that offers a variety of rewards based on "action" in the casinos on Celebrity ships.

The minimum requirements for membership in the club are two hours of play daily over the course of the cruise. Players will be rated, and to qualify for the Blue Chip Club, average bets must meet or exceed $50 per hand at blackjack; $50 per roll at craps; $25 per hand at Caribbean Stud poker or three card poker; and $25 per spin at roulette. The minimum to qualify for slots players is $5 per spin.

Celebrity says that if a guest's play meets these minimums, he or she will be personally invited by the casino manager to join. One immediate benefit is that Blue Chip Club members receive complementary drinks in the casino.

Based on play, members of the Blue Chip Club also earn rebates toward future cruises. Celebrity says depending on your "action," rebates can range anywhere from $250 up to enough money to totally cover the cost of your next cruise.

Celebrity has special invitational blackjack and slots tournaments several times a year to which it invites Blue Chip Club members.