- Do Cruise Casinos Payout
- Best Gambling On Cruise Ships
- Cruise Ship Slot Machine Payouts
- Cruise Ship Slot Machine Odds
- Winning Slots On Cruise Ship
Most large cruise ships, and even some of the smaller ones (Crystal's 848-passenger Crystal Symphony and 980-passenger Crystal Serenity, for example), will have an onboard casino. The major exception to the big ship rule is Disney Cruise Line, which does not have a casino on any of its four cruise ships.
The MS Radiance of the Seas has a Vegas-style casino that is an impressive 6,459 square foot with 188 slots and 11 tables.
Cruise ships are a great place for players top enjoy some gambling while they are on a relaxing vacation at sea. With many of the leading cruise lines offering ships that have full casinos, players who enjoy the thrills of blackjack will find great games that can be played. The main difference between playing on a cruise ship as opposed to a land casino is the limitation of game variations. Since there is smaller floor space available, most cruise ships will only offer a single variation of blackjack, though there may be a few that have two or more variations depending on the size of the casino.
Cruise ship casinos open their gaming tables the moment the ship is three miles offshore, in international waters. Gamblers will find that he betting options on a cruise ship are relatively low, so high rollers may not be interested in betting. However, for the casual blackjack player, these cruise casinos offer a great way to enjoy some gabling action while on vacation. There are even themed cruises, where the focus is on gambling and these can offer more game variations and even tournaments that can be played aboard.
Best Cruises for Gambling & Blackjack
Blackjack fans will want to make sure their selected cruise ship offers the game and below are the most popular ships for those that enjoy the thrills of blackjack.
Radiance of the Seas – Royal Caribbean
Destinations: Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Transpacific, Hawaii
- Single and eight deck blackjack offered with a $5 minimum on both tables.
- Cruise offers blackjack tournaments.
More info:www.royalcaribbean.com
Voyager of the Seas – Royal Caribbean
Destinations: Asia, Australia/New Zealand
- 6 blackjack tables offered, 2 with single deck games.
- Small table limits, between $3 and $6. Two tables offer higher bets, ranging from $25 to $300 per hand.
More info:www.royalcaribbean.com
Carnival Fantasy – Carnival
Destinations: Bahamas, Caribbean
- Multiple blackjack tables with variations such as Face Up and Fun 21.
- Low game minimums for casual players with some higher limits up to $300 per hand.
More info:www.carnival.com
Norwegian Jewel – Norwegian
Destinations: Alaska, Mexican Riviera, Pacific Coastal
- 9 multi-deck blackjack tables with $5 minimums.
- One table offered for high rollers for bets from $100 to $2000.
More info:www.ncl.com
Norwegian Dawn – Norwegian
Destinations: Bermuda, Canada, New England, Caribbean
- Multiple tables with eight deck games and side bets, like Lucky Ladies and Wheel of Madness.
- High roller table reserved with minimums of $100.
More info:www.ncl.com
Five Important Tips for Playing on a Casino Cruise
Playing casino games on a cruise ship is not much different from playing at a land casino, but there are some slight differences to prepare for when sailing. The following tips will get gamblers ready for their onboard blackjack experience.
1. Plan gambling around the complete cruise itinerary. Always remember that all cruise ship casinos are closed when the boat is in port. There are some exceptions, such as in Bermuda and Nassau.
2. The casino will be open when in international waters, so those eager to play just have to wait for the boat to be between 3 and 12 nautical miles from shore.
3. Be ready to deal with smokers. Most of the cruise ships that offer a casino will have designated smoking areas and if the casino is small, smoking may be allowed everywhere in the casino. There may be some exceptions to cigar smoking.
4. Most casino games on a cruise ship are played by casual players. There are seldom card sharks or professional players on board, so prepare for a casual and relaxing experience at the tables.
5. Watch for themed cruises where a major focus is on gambling. These are the cruises that will offer blackjack tournaments and special events throughout the cruise that will make onboard gambling even more exciting and rewarding.
Cruise ship casinos are the worst. I use to work as a bartender on a ship and can tell you that they really are the tightest machine you'll ever play. The reason being not jusf because they can get away with it but because there is no competition at sea and very little to do on a ship that's as exciting as the casino. Don't play at cruise casinos.
I haven't been on many cruise's the ones I have been on had some good IGT VP, even a nice VP progressive, including a bunch of bonus banking slots. I can't know if chips had been tampered with or not but I won.I haven't been on many cruise's the ones I have been on had some good IGT VP, even a nice VP progressive, including a bunch of bonus banking slots. I can't know if chips had been tampered with or not but I won.
Consider yourself lucky. It would be wise to quit while ahead and not tempt cruise casino fate.
Do Cruise Casinos Payout
Having said that due to the relatively unschooled and inexperienced pit staff on cruise ships, I don't hesitate to believe that you can get away with moving your money while playing blackjack. The rules are not too horrible either if memory serves. No surrender, stand on S17, 6 decks, DAS, Split Aces once only. If I remember accurately, the games I ran was running at about a about 0.42%. The problem is that the minimums are quite often low but you can still have aa very decent spread on $5 to $500 tables. If you play at the $25-$1000 tables you will attract more attention.I wonder if people have tried to count or hole card on cruise ships before?
Anybody care to share some stories?
I know I never backed anybody off because I was told not to. The customer is always right?!?!?!?!?
I know I never backed anybody off because I was told not to. The customer is always right?!?!?!?!?
That's what I like to hear!!!! Where do I find these cruises that don't back people off?
I wonder if people have tried to count or hole card on cruise ships before?
Someone on the forums told me that he and his wife hole carded on their honeymoon and there was no heat. I won't say who, but hopefully there are some more stories.
I'm going on a Princess cruise next month, so I'll definitely check out the blackjack and at least look at the VP.
Best Gambling On Cruise Ships
Cruise Ship Slot Machine Payouts
I wish that there was a cruise that had like a legitimate casino. Something over 90% payback on slots and craps with 3,4,5x. Honestly, that might actually make me take a cruise.
When I worked on Celebrity they most assuredly had 3,4,5 x odds no doubt, in fact I was the one who suggested they change from double odds to shore up more high limit action.
It promtly worked with the next cruise having two guys with $50k front money come on board.
I very much doubt casino dealers or floor people care about counters or hole carders......they are there to have fun. You are more likely to get caught by a fellow guest who wants to be a whistleblower than a sharp employee.......
Sad but true :)
Administrator
I wouldn't get into playing the slots on cruise ships....NEVER, not even for a little fun and entertainment.
I never say never when it comes to gambling and AP. People say certain table games can't be beaten, they just have no clue. I take things on a case by case basis. I also don't believe half the people that claim they can beat certain games with betting systems, I know dam well they are full of crap. IE Varmenti, Gplayer, Tounement king to name a fewWhat you said about cruises, I hear this often about reel slot machines and even from so called experts(especially in the past). You should never say NEVER. You could miss a great opportunity.
IE online. Many people including AP's blasted others for playing online casinos and they stayed away. Me Being Leary and actually believing to a few casino Blacklist sites, cost me enough as it is. Luckily I took the leap of faith on a few blacklisted sites and was generously rewarded. A few others made in the mid hundreds of thousands without much risk. Sure they got stiffed or slow paid a few times, It was worth the risk for them.
Cruise Ship Slot Machine Odds
A Few guys did do well on some cruise ships and it had nothing to do with positive variance.