If you are accustomed to the finest things in life -- deluxe suites, highly attentive service, fine dining, first-rate entertainment -- the Queen Mary 2 has all that plus a very enjoyable casino for you.

While the QM2 is currently the largest passenger ship on the seas, its casino is neither the largest nor the most active. We would not commend either the QM2 or its casino to players traveling on a budget who are looking forward to a week of late-night gaming revelry.

But for those who can afford to book either the Princess Grill junior suites or the even more expensive Queens Grill suites, the extremely friendly and accommodating casino staff are more than ready to do their part to help you enjoy one of the finest weeks imaginable on the high seas.

The QM2's Empire Casino provides a spacious gambling area with 12 gaming tables (6 multi-deck blackjack tables, one fun blackjack, one three-card poker, one Caribbean stud poker, two roulette and one craps table).

The casino actually consists of two gambling areas, because most of the 121 slots are located In a separate salon adjacent to the room with the table games. As a result of this unusual layout, the ambiance at the table games tends to be a bit more subdued than in casinos where there is a constant ringing of bells and electronic shrieks of "Wheeeel of Fortune." The QM2's slots include a bank of machines offering a shot at winning the Ocean Players Club progressive Megacash jackpot, which on this October 2005 sailing had climbed to well over a third of a million dollars..

The casino is also unusual in that it is located on the QM2's second deck (providing more stability in higher seas, and with large windows along the perimeter that offer a spectacular view of crashing waves).

Most of the table games have a $5 minimum and $200 maximum, though the casino is more than happy to provide tables with a $25 minimum and $500 maximum. On a recent Atlantic crossing, those opting for the $25 blackjack table frequently found themselves playing a solo game against the dealer -- an opportunity eagerly sought by some players but less preferred by others seeking a more social game. Interestingly, there was more action many nights at the casino's roulette tables, which tend to be favored by European players.

While the casino does not offer the $50 or $100 tables found on some ships, if you plan to travel on the QM2 and would like to play for higher stakes (ie, $100 to $2,000), you can do so by making arrangements in advance with the Ocean Players Club.

As is generally the case on ships, the casino closed nights when the players dwindled down to a few, which tended to happen on this eastbound crossing between 1 and 2 a.m.

The QM2's dealers on the whole were not only competent but extremely friendly. Casino hosts invited players to sign up for the Ocean Players Club, and were extremely solicitous in offering complementary drinks to those playing for higher stakes.

Overall, if you are a VIP player whose cruising interest lies primarily in non-stop casino action and your cruise budget would lead you to book the QM2's Britannia Class, we would suggest you might want to consider whether you would have more late-night fun on another ship.

But if you stay in deluxe suites at the Bellagio or Caesars and enjoy the fine things in life, traveling Queens Grill or Princess Grill on the QM2 is an experience to be savored, and the Empire Casino is a most pleasant place in which to spend your gaming hours.

--The Savvy Cruiser