Berlin Oceanis Cruise Ship | Penang Casino Cruise and What to Expect

If you’ve ever wondered what a 1980s German cruise ship, a freshly polished casino, and a vending machine selling paracetamol, instant noodles, and condoms all have in common — you’ll find the answer floating off the coast of Penang.

The Berlin Oceanis is Penang’s latest cruise-to-nowhere experience — a refurbished, retro cruise ship reborn as a floating casino, complete with private cabins, buffet meals, massage rooms, and slot machines as far as the eye can see.

We booked a sailing on the Berlin Oceanis to see what it’s really like. Here’s what you need to know — the good, the quirky, and whether it’s worth jumping aboard.

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🚢 The Cruise Concept: A Loop at Sea

The Berlin Oceanis runs two cruises daily out of Penang’s Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal: a morning cruise and a night cruise, each lasting around 8–10 hours. Importantly, this is a “cruise to nowhere” — the ship doesn’t dock at any destination. It heads out into the Straits of Malacca, circles the waters off Penang, and returns back to port.

Cruise Schedule:

• Day Cruise
  • Boarding: 9:30 AM
  • Departure: Around 10:30 AM (boarding closes at 10:20 sharp)
  • Return: ~6:30 PM
• Night Cruise
  • Boarding: Around 8:30 PM
  • Departure: ~9:30 PM
  • Return: Between 7:00–7:30 AM the following morning

There’s no sightseeing or destination hopping here — the purpose of the Berlin Oceanis cruise is onboard entertainment, particularly for casino guests, casual travellers, and anyone curious to experience this restored ship with a colourful past. travel cruise — and once you understand that, the entire experience makes more sense.

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🛏 Cabins: Refreshed, Functional, and Worth the Price

The Berlin Oceanis cruise ship offers a decent range of cabins for guests wanting a bit more comfort or planning to stay overnight. Options include basic interior cabins, ocean-view twins, family rooms, and a handful of larger units like the Berlin Suite — the top-tier accommodation on the Berlin Oceanis.

We booked the Berlin Suite, which came in at MYR 280 (~USD 59 / EUR 56) for the overnight sailing. While modest in size, the cabin felt well refreshed and was equipped with everything you’d expect from an economy-class cruise room: a private bathroom with shower, a comfortable queen bed, working air-con, a desk, and small storage areas.

Cabins have clearly been renovated during the ship’s 2025 refit. They’re clean, quiet, and comfortable enough for a short cruise — and that’s about all you need for a night onboard. The interiors lean simple but fresh, with wood-laminate finishes and neutral tones. It’s far from luxury cruising, but for the price, it’s very good value.

Entry-level rooms reportedly start from just MYR 100 (~USD 21 / EUR 20), making this one of the most affordable overnight cruises in Malaysia with private cabins available.

No frills, but certainly no complaints. The cabins are quiet, and it’s clear they’ve had a decent upgrade during the ship’s refit — just don’t expect infinity pools or robes we did have pretty decent towels though!

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🍽 Food & Drink: Local Comfort Food, Buffet Style

Each Berlin Oceanis sailing includes two buffet meals:

• Day cruise: Breakfast and lunch
• Overnight cruise: Dinner and breakfast

Meals are served in a large buffet restaurant on Deck 4. The menu focuses on Malaysian-Chinese comfort food — steamed rice, noodles, curry fish or chicken, vegetables, tofu, and various fried options.

It’s not five-star, but it’s fresh, filling, and suits the market. Juice, and some other soft drinks are included.

Alcohol is available for a reasonable price:

• Yacht Club Bar: Beers for MYR 14 (~USD 3 / EUR 2.75)
• Karaoke Bar: Same beer for MYR 18 (~USD 3.80 / EUR 3.50)

Unclear why the price difference, but if you’re not fussy where you drink it, the savings are there.

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🎰 The Casino & Entertainment: This Is Why You’re Here

Make no mistake — the casino is the heart of the Berlin Oceanis. The ship is built around it, and most guests are clearly there for the games, not the sea breeze.

• Deck 5 Casino: Blackjack, roulette, slot machines, and a popular Chinese game we couldn’t name
• Deck 6 VIP Poker Room: Smaller, quieter space upstairs

The layout is clean and bright — newly refitted, with proper gaming floors that feel more Las Vegas than Langkawi. It’s not a cruise ship pretending to be a casino. It’s a casino that happens to float.

Other entertainment options include:

• Massage parlour: MYR 110 (~USD 23 / EUR 21) for a 1-hour treatment
• Karaoke: private rooms downstairs and a large Karaoke bar on deck 5.
• Beauty salon: Renovated but not staffed during our visit
• Shopping: A bank of vending machines selling snacks, drinks, over-the-counter meds, and yes — condoms (sold out, must have been a busy weekend as we were on a Monday morning sailing)

The vibe is casual, functional, and oddly charming. If you’re not gambling, there’s not much to do — but you also won’t be pressured into anything.

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💸 How Much It Costs

We booked through a local Facebook group and WhatsApp contact, and the process was simple (if a little informal).

Our total for two:

• Cruise Fare: MYR 100 per person (~USD 21 / EUR 20)
• Berlin Suite: MYR 280 (~USD 59 / EUR 56) for the cabin not per person
• Meals: Included
• Drinks / casino / massage: Pay-as-you-go

Other cabins start around MYR 100, and there’s no obligation to gamble — though it’s clear that’s the main draw for most onboard and not much for others to do other than enjoy the sea air, the views and the fact that you are on a boat.

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🧭 Who This Is (and Isn’t) For

The Berlin Oceanis isn’t trying to be a mainstream cruise ship, and it’s not aimed at international tourists or honeymooners. It’s designed for:

• Gamblers looking for a legal and relaxed offshore setting
• Locals and regional guests wanting a quick escape from Penang
• Curious travellers who enjoy quirky, low-pressure experiences
• People who just want a clean cabin, a decent meal, and a unique night (or day) out

It’s not ideal if you’re looking for:

• Scenic destinations
• Cruise-style entertainment or excursions
• High-end food or all-day activities

But for what it is — a floating casino and short getaway — it works surprisingly well. The ship may be older, the entertainment minimal, but it’s honest about what it offers. And sometimes, that’s all you need it makes a decent replacement for the Aegean paradise which is the ship that came before it.

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🎥 Watch Our Videos for the Full Tour

• Berlin Oceanis Cabin Tour – Inside the Berlin Suite
• Full Ship Walkthrough – Berlin Oceanis Casino Cruise from Penang
• (Coming soon: “How to Book a Casino Cruise from Penang”