Hot Cruise Slots
The world of cruising is an escapist dream and a rare and refreshing treat for an online slot’s setting. A sea voyage is ripe with symbolism, perfect for reel graphics, with a mixture of nauticalia and beach holiday bits and bobs in the mix. In Hot Cruise you'll find 5 reels and 20 pay lines, a standard layout, with bet starting from just 1 credit all the way up to a max bet of 2000 credits.
There are free spins to be nabbed and during this you can re-trigger even more free games. You’ll also find a gamble feature and some super cheery graphics to boot. In terms of visuals alone, this slot is a great antidote to dreary winter nights, providing plenty of amusement with prizes. All aboard our full review to find out whether this slot is cruising to legendary status, or is about to leave you feeling sea sick…
A Nostalgic Slot
Hot Cruise comes from the stable of software developer DLV Slots. The name might be less familiar than some others, but the games creator works with many bigger brands as well as land based casinos and has a growing portfolio of safe and reliable slots.
As with all DLV games there is an auto spin feature in Hot Cruise, and a pay table so you can keep track of how you are doing at any given point. Their games are all fully compatible with portable devices and operating systems including iOS, Android and Windows, and generally have a medium level of volatility – including this one. There is something a little bit 1970s in the design of Hot Cruise – think The Love Boat meets classic fruit machine. So if you like your slots cheesy, this one is guaranteed to be right up your street.
Somewhere Beyond the Sea
The captain of the ship tips his cap to you with a cheeky grin in Hot Cruise. He is the wild and substitutes for all except the cruise liner scatter. These stunning white ocean liners are the most valuable symbols on the board. If you land three, four or five of them, you will trigger 12 free games.
The next most valuable symbol is (presumably) a passenger. This bikini clad lady with a flower in her hair Honolulu style, suns herself on the deck as she lives the dream. The next highest value symbol is an array of cocktails with a golden ticket and a passport, and then there is a compass and life ring. The letters A, K, Q, J and the numbers 9 and 10 are the lower value symbols.
All of the winning combinations pay out from left to right, except for the cruise ship scatter. Wins must be achieved on an active win line with only the highest win per combination paid. Once in the free games round, your bet will be held at the same value as that which triggered the feature in the main game.
When you have some cash accrued you can choose to double your money (or lose it all) in the gamble feature. The gamble asks you to choose between a red or black playing card. You can continue gambling for as long as you're on a winning streak, resulting in some high-paying, low effort results – if you have the nerve, of course. However, once you lose, your time in the feature will be over, taking your money with it. So, remember, it can be wiser to quit while you are ahead.
More Free Online Slots
If you are seeking a sea based online getaway like Hot Cruise, there is another slot well worth trying. Baby Boomers Cash Cruise is the creation of Rival Gaming, sporting 5 reels and 15 paylines, with a 94% return to player. Unlike Hot Cruise, this slot transports you to destinations both hot and cold (including Alaska) via a spin of the Destination Wheel.
There are some neat animations incorporated into play, enabling you to see the view via binoculars. Bets range from 0.01 to 75 coins, so won’t be as exciting a prospect for those looking to spend big from the outset. However there’s a lot more going in the way of features, so it’s potentially a more interesting play if you’re not fussed about high limits.
For a higher RTP (the payout percentage is unknown on Hot Cruise), opt for NetEnt’s Beach at 96.8%. This has the the same layout as Hot Cruise, with 5 reels and 20 paylines. There is a 200 coin limit and a 40,000 jackpot, with shifting wilds to help you out with scoring winning combinations. The animations are cartoon childlike and the reels move with the waves, rather than a traditional spin mechanism, offering a unique game play experience.
Fair Weather Sailing
Hot Cruise video slot, as with many other DLV games, will appeal to high rollers, thanks to its high betting limit. Although if you prefer to play slots for fun, you will be pleased to know that you don’t need to spend a penny if you don’t want to. This is a deeply attractive game visually speaking, that transports you to exotic climes with shimmering blue sea, palm trees and bright pink flowers.
Otherwise, it’s middle of the road and doesn’t have an awful lot in terms of technical specification, for it to stand out from the crowd. DLV slots are all very similar, so it’s good news if you enjoy their simple, easy to play style, as there are many themes from which to choose.
We love that they’ve gone for a cruise ship design on this one, and for that alone it’s worth playing. Get lucky and who knows? You may even be able to fund a real-life luxury cruise with your winnings.
