The casino aboard Royal Caribbean's newest megaship, Liberty of the Seas, which we first visited on a preview sailing in May, more than lived up to our expectation that it would host some of the liveliest gaming action in the Caribbean when we returned for a second look in October.

From midevening until post-midnight on this cruise to the Eastern Caribbean, the Casino Royale was packed with players -- no small feat given the size of the casinos on Liberty and its sister Freedom of the Seas, which currently share world's-largest-cruiseship honors.

Liberty's 19 tables are clustered in two banks, with eight tables forming the centerpiece of the Casino Royale's midships foyer (above), and eleven more spread along the main casino's port wall.

The tables offer seven multi-deck blackjack games, two single-deck blackjack, two Caribbean stud poker, two three-card poker, one low-limit Texas Hold 'em, one Let It Ride, three roulette tables and one craps table.

With a group of high-rollers from Royal Caribbean's Club Royale players club aboard on this cruise, the casino offered $50-$2,000 and $100-$2,000 blackjack tables as well as the customary lower-stakes tables.

Occupying the center and starboard side of the casino are 306 slots -- about a dozen more than on the Voyager-class ships -- offering wagering opportunities ranging from a penny to $25.

The slots seemed particularly loose on this cruise, with jackpots being announced on a nightly basis that frequently ran well into five figures.

Both Liberty and Freedom have more tables, and a more spacious feel, than the casinos on Royal Caribbean's five Voyager-class ships -- Explorer of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas.

As we have commented before, Royal Caribbean's dealers are among the most friendly and competent at sea and the veteran dealers on the Liberty -- as might be expected on the line's newest ship -- were no exception.

Casino management also was very attentive to VIP players, with comped drinks quick to arrive. Liberty is one of a handful of Royal Caribbean ships that now also have a casino host aboard to assist Club Royale members.

Interestingly, more than half the passengers on this cruise came from outside the United States, with many of them Europeans, who generally spend less time in casinos than Americans. When the passenger mix is more heavily skewed toward U.S. cruisers, Liberty's casino must really be hopping.

--The Savvy Cruiser