Anyone Here Wise To Cruise Ship Casinos?
Jul 9, 2011, 3:27 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: chicago
Posts: 196
Anyone Here Wise To Cruise Ship Casinos?
I understand they are unregulated, a big ripoff, and I should avoid the casino.
Anyone with experience care to comment?
I'm on Norwegian, if that makes any difference.
Anyone with experience care to comment?
I'm on Norwegian, if that makes any difference.
Jul 9, 2011, 6:34 pm
#2
In Memoriam
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Southern California
Programs: Hertz 5 star, Priceline Hotel bidder. AA PLT, 1MM.
Posts: 2,910
My wife likes to play slots and we find penny slots (or lowest amount) and play a short time for entertainment value. We only lose a few dollars (<$5)and the ship's casinos are a big ripoff. We don't stay long in the ship's casino as the cigarette smoking makes it hard to breathe. 
I have on NCL cruises used my room card to get some cash at the casino on a few occasions. They didn't charge any extra commission like some other cruiselines. It did help us to meet spend thresholds on CC's (for signup bonuses ^) on those few occasions. Any cash advance in the casino gets charged to the onboard account secured by the CC. We only did cash advances of several $100 on each cruise. I believe that NCL allows $2000/day/cabin so one could take out a bunch of $$. I wouldn't want to carry that much cash around but that could be easier than coins.
The cruiselines don't make alot from us as we usually do our own independent excursions in ports and don't spend much on stuff. (jewelry, alcohol, art auctions, etc)
I have on NCL cruises used my room card to get some cash at the casino on a few occasions. They didn't charge any extra commission like some other cruiselines. It did help us to meet spend thresholds on CC's (for signup bonuses ^) on those few occasions. Any cash advance in the casino gets charged to the onboard account secured by the CC. We only did cash advances of several $100 on each cruise. I believe that NCL allows $2000/day/cabin so one could take out a bunch of $$. I wouldn't want to carry that much cash around but that could be easier than coins.
The cruiselines don't make alot from us as we usually do our own independent excursions in ports and don't spend much on stuff. (jewelry, alcohol, art auctions, etc)
Jul 9, 2011, 7:03 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: none
Posts: 1,668
A casino may be a legitimate operation, but a lousy bet because of the odds.
Compare the chance of winning at any casino with the chance of losing. If the odds are same as Las Vegas gives at their casinos, its a poor bet. If the odds are worse than Las Vegas, it's a really poor bet.
Compare the chance of winning at any casino with the chance of losing. If the odds are same as Las Vegas gives at their casinos, its a poor bet. If the odds are worse than Las Vegas, it's a really poor bet.
Jul 9, 2011, 8:39 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: FLL
Programs: AA Gold, DL Gold, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold, Starwood Gold, too many cruise programs to list
Posts: 655
A casino may be a legitimate operation, but a lousy bet because of the odds.
Compare the chance of winning at any casino with the chance of losing. If the odds are same as Las Vegas gives at their casinos, its a poor bet. If the odds are worse than Las Vegas, it's a really poor bet.
Compare the chance of winning at any casino with the chance of losing. If the odds are same as Las Vegas gives at their casinos, its a poor bet. If the odds are worse than Las Vegas, it's a really poor bet.
Player's Club does have a tie-in to Carnival, and provides some promotions to their players, but other than that, do know you're starting off on a worse foot than major land casinos.
Jul 10, 2011, 11:06 am
#6
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond
Posts: 31,801
Casinos that don't make money for the operators, be them on land or sea, close their doors. The odds are always in favor of the house winning, it's the perfect business model.
Are they any worse on a cruise ship? Ask 100 people, and those who won money will say they are not, those who lost will say they are. If you are worried about the ripoff factor, play the stuff that they can't control the outcome of and rely just on the odds of the game, like the table games.
But things like slots and video games, sure some people win, but they don't have rows and rows and rows in every casino on the planet for the winners.
Think of the casino as entertainment, a place you go to spend money and have fun. If you happen to leave with more than you came in with it's a bonus.
Are they any worse on a cruise ship? Ask 100 people, and those who won money will say they are not, those who lost will say they are. If you are worried about the ripoff factor, play the stuff that they can't control the outcome of and rely just on the odds of the game, like the table games.
But things like slots and video games, sure some people win, but they don't have rows and rows and rows in every casino on the planet for the winners.
Think of the casino as entertainment, a place you go to spend money and have fun. If you happen to leave with more than you came in with it's a bonus.
Jul 10, 2011, 12:35 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: 60137
Posts: 10,498
Jul 10, 2011, 1:58 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: louisville,ky usa
Programs: Delta Platinum, HH Diamond, , AA Gold, Bonvoy Titaniu
Posts: 619
Are they any worse on a cruise ship? Ask 100 people, and those who won money will say they are not, those who lost will say they are. If you are worried about the ripoff factor, play the stuff that they can't control the outcome of and rely just on the odds of the game, like the table games.
You will never find me betting a dollar in any casino-- worked too long in them, watching the money being vacuumed in--- But, if you are considering casino play, you would be far better served in Mississippin, Las Vegas or Atlantic City that you will be on a cruise ship.
Jul 10, 2011, 8:14 pm
#10
In Memoriam
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: dallas texas usa
Programs: aa plt 4.9MM LTAC
Posts: 14,828
my impression is that they are like any other casino, but w/a better edge for the house....good for recreation, but not to pay for the cruise....gambling isn't as much fun as it was when i couldn't afford it!...
Jul 11, 2011, 8:57 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,830
While some things are horrible paybacks (like slot machines); the craps table continues to be vegas-like in its odds offering a 98%+ return for passline/come bets; and a little better if you add odds bets on top of that. Blackjack that pays 3:2 for blackjacks also continues to be a decent (98%+ for perfect strategy). Avoid the single deck 6:5 blackjack.
The poker table was 10% rake/max $10, which is a lot higher than Vegas which is typically 10% rake/max $3-$4
The poker table was 10% rake/max $10, which is a lot higher than Vegas which is typically 10% rake/max $3-$4
Jul 11, 2011, 1:26 pm
#13
In Memoriam
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Southern California
Programs: Hertz 5 star, Priceline Hotel bidder. AA PLT, 1MM.
Posts: 2,910
My relative plays poker and paid $60 to play in the poker tourney. I advised him to not pay for any rebuys & did not do any rebuys. He ended up being in the top 3 and they decided to split the pot. They each got $600.
He commented to me that the "rounds" were too short and the house took alot of $$ for themselves.
He did have a nice time & took home some decent $$ to for future play in poker tourneys in Vegas and his local Indian Casino.
Jul 11, 2011, 11:04 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2006
Location: YYZ
Posts: 731
Playing poker on a non-poker cruise will generally test your patience - short rounds, too high starting blinds, high rake, etc - but the players are so bad that a semi-decent player has a reasonable chance of walking away profitable.
Jul 14, 2011, 9:32 am
#15
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: louisville,ky usa
Programs: Delta Platinum, HH Diamond, , AA Gold, Bonvoy Titaniu
Posts: 619
In addition, on cruise ships, the rake is taken on every hand, even when everyone folds to the blinds, whereas in land casinos it is typically "No flop, no drop".
I have often wondered about setting up a private game on board with our own chips and deck-- has anyone every participated in a private game on board (exlcuding poker rooms on poker cruises)?