The Carnival Freedom, newest of the line's five Conquest-class ships, has wound up a summer in Europe and moved its large, active casino to the Caribbean for the winter season.

While the Babylon Casino is similar in size to the casinos of its four sisters -- Carnival Liberty, Carnival Valor, Carnival Conquest and Carnival Glory -- its decor is unique, based on the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World.

Carnival Freedom's casino, like those of the other Conquest-class ships, provides one of the largest gaming areas at sea with 18 tables (including a dozen blackjack tables, two roulette and one craps table).

More than 200 slots surround the tables offering "coinless gaming," letting players insert the same Sign & Sail card they use as a cabin key to upload, download and store slot machine credits in what is called a "Player Bank." Ocean Players Club members utilizing this system also accumulate points on their Sign & Sail card as they play, entitling them to receive instant cash rebates.

(Important note: The rewards you have accumulated on your Sign & Sail card have to be turned back into cash in the Casino before midnight on the last night of your cruise.)

Most of the table games in the Babylon Casino had a $5 minimum and $200 maximum (a few were $10-$300), and several blackjack tables had a $25 minimum and $500 maximum -- a workable range for all but the highest rollers. (Ocean Players Club high rollers wishing to play at these tables for up to $100 minimum and $2,000 maximum stakes can do so by making arrangements prior to sailing).

In a new development since we last sailed on Carnival, blackjack dealers as of November 2007 have begun hitting on soft 17, following the lead of Royal Caribbean in adopting an unfortunate policy that slightly increases the advantage of the house.

We also had an opportunity on Carnival Freedom to observe a number of games at the 10-player automated PokerPro table, which is now used for Texas Hold 'em on all Carnival and most Princess cruise ships.

Most of the players we talked to liked the PokerPro table, which enables players to compete without benefit of a live dealer (and produces a faster game). Players each sit in front of a touch screen that reveals hole cards and chip stacks. When it is a player's turn, the machine prompts you to check, bet, raise or fold.

On this cruise, the Ocean Players Club was hosting a World Series of Poker satellite tournament utilizing the PokerPro table, in which top prize was a seat worth $10,000 in the World Series of Poker.

The dealers at the other gaming table games on the ship on the whole were competent, and Ocean Players Club hosts on the Carnival Freedom were extremely outgoing and friendly -- and quick to comp drinks for VIP players.

We heard several veteran Ocean Players Club members complaining, however, about the less than solicitous attitude of the Babylon Casino management. Our guess is this problem will be corrected shortly.

Overall, we found the Carnival Freedom casino a fun place in which to gamble -- and we would guess that players will find it a strong addition to this winter's Caribbean gaming scene.

--The Savvy Cruiser