AndyTheK

I'm with Yo. Last two cruises have been on Princess, and there's one coming up in six says (plus one more in April 2012 booked). Double odds at the craps table and pretty good casino staff.

Our upcoming cruise in two weeks will be the fourth time (third on Princess) that DW has used specialneedsatsea. I'm adding my voice to those who say that unless you have reserved a handicapped accessible cabin, check with Princess to determine whether the scooter you are renting will fit through the door of a regular cabin. Princess does not allow scooters, wheelchairs, etc. to be stored in hallways, near elevators, and so forth. It would create a safety hazard to other passengers.

 

Should you be thinking of using a supply company other than the two mentioned in the thread, you MUST contact Princess. They have a list of allowed vendors, and will not permit any other vendor access to the ship for security reasons.

 

Shalom. Andy

We have only 1 cruise with Princess. Prior to that I called the Players Club (or sent in the form from the website then followed up) and they gave us each $50 in casino cash plus the wine, strawberries, picture & drink coupon. They could see our Carnival Cruise casino history & they knew our players club number. There was no "card".

 

Try this link: http://oceanplayersclub.com/CPCAboutTheClub/VIP.aspx

 

It's for Carnival but I would think it's the same I used for Princess. I know I call the same person for Princess or Carnival.

 

You should get some sort of email in a day or so.

 

Hope that helps!

Karen

p.s. We play slots and vp. If you are a tables player; I'm not sure how they send perks but I'd sure give them the opportunity to do so!

I called today. It's the same phone number for Princess, Carnival and Holland America (you choose the line in the maze).

 

I will be getting $150 on our next cruise in six weeks. Sounds like a good deal to me :D:D

 

Good luck and shalom. Andy

Just sent my email inquiry about any comps we might be qualified for for our upcoming cruise next month. Thanks for the information!

I'm going on Princess in six weeks. Last cruise I asked to be rated and we were comped a few gifts and drinks every now and then. We were not issued membership cards or numbers.

 

Does anyone have experience with Princess (a part of OPC) as to whether it's better to make a phone call or write email? If email, how should I identify myself to them?

 

TIA and shalom, Andy.

As a generalization. I never liked any casino in a Caribbean port. Neither did I like the one in Taba, Egypt. Haven't tried any in Europe, so I can't say anything about them.

I sailed the Coral about 18 months ago. At that time they didn't allow hop bets. Odds were 2X - no "filling" (wouldn't accept $25 on a ten dollar line if the point was 6 or 8, for example). Table limit was always $5-500, max payout on prop bets $1000. The dealers were good and the game moved well. Smoking was NEVER allowed at the craps table (was only allowed on one blackjack table) and they had a few non-smoking nights. Was comped an occasional drink.

 

The "casino host" (Bruce? Louis? can't remember) was a cold fish, never smiled and wasn't interested in interaction with the players. Floor people were OK. Sometimes had a boxman, sometimes not. Dealers quickly got to know our names and a few of them were a lot of fun to talk to, both inside the casino and out. Of course by now most of the casino crew has probably changed.

 

On Alaska cruises there are some limitations to casino opening nights, which we didn't have on our Panama Canal transit. There are threads somewhere on these boards on that subject. I believe the Patter will have the information.

 

Good luck, have fun. Andy.

Quick question .... approximately how much do you have to play in order to qualify for any freebies

I didn't exactly ask that question... on the Crown Princess I asked how much did I have to play to be rated. Answer was two hours a night at a $25 table spread. I can't speak for slots at all, since I never play them. Playing that much, I got a couple of small comps and a few drinks for DW and myself. We were doing poorly and after a couple of nights cut our unit size down. Didn't seem to change how often we were offered drinks. Nothing to rave about, but Princess is not known to be generous with comps.

 

Good luck and Shalom, Andy

Wow - old thread!

 

In general, Princess sips have a craps table. The floor plan is a representation, not an actual diagram of the layout. Which ship will you be cruising on? I've sailed the Coral and the Crown and both of them do. They didn't get really heavy action on my cruises, but they were open nightly.

 

Shalom, Andy.

Looking for a cruise line out of the US, that offers all free drinks, including alcoholic ones, in the up front cost of the cruise. We're fed up getting the additional bill at the end of a vacation. It's bad enough paying all the enforced "tips". We'd like to pay everything up front.

 

long island windows

You'll find them. Seabourne is one example. I believe Crystal also (not sure on this one). But don't be alarmed at the cruise prices. "all inclusive" is just that.

 

As Robert Heinlein often reminded us, TANSTAAFL.

 

Enjoy your cruises.

That sounds like a player who does not want white chips. As for me, it only makes sense to give or take the maximum odds allowed.

Bingo!! You're right that one should take as much in odds as is allowed. I'd never consider it if the chips were in fact white, but I have been thinking about this on my next cruise, simply because Princess' one dollar chips are a dark blue with red trim, with the value printed in a dull color on a "busy" background. In the poor lighting at the craps tables and my reduced vision, it makes for a little confusion at the speed I need to make decisions. Last cruise, I asked if they'd allow $25 odds on 6/8 for a ten dollar line and they said no. For now, just thinking about it.

When a player at a $5 mininum table put $10 on the pass line and takes $5 odds, that's a tell.

 

When a player does not take even odds for the 5 and/or 9, that's a tell.

What would you think of a player who put $15 on the line and took double odds EXCEPT if the point was 6 or 8, in which case he took only $25 odds?

Yes place bets are off on the come out unless you specifically ask the dealer to leave them working. I think that the online sites might just be taking the bets down and returning them to you. One of the reasons I don't use the bodog site for craps (as I do for other casino games) is that IIRC, place bets are taken down after they win. Annoying to me.

 

What I use to practice is a program called WinCraps. You can download it and try it out. VERY flexible and the play flows well.

 

Shalom from Tel Aviv. Andy

If you decide on Special Needs at Sea as your vendor, then don't rush to reserve now. I see your cruise is several months away. Special Needs at Sea runs sales every now and then, so it's worth while to wait. While their site doesn't give prices, they do advertise when a sale will be in effect. By the way, IIRC, you pay at the time you reserve.

 

DW has rented scooters from Special Needs at Sea three times. Princess does accept them as an approved vendor.

 

Shalom, Andy.

Can you buy the card on the ship? (as vs. buying it via TA or b4 the cruise online?)

The card is sold only on the ship - no other options. Don't worry, on embarkation day there will be tables set up all over the ship selling coffee and soda cards.

 

SOME travel agents have a coupon book as a perk which contains a coupon giving you two coffee cards for the price of one. Don't confuse this coupon book with the one Princess places in everyone's cabun - that is nearly worthless.

As previously posted, coffee - like everything else you eat or drink - is subjective. I am THIS CLOSE (holds hand up with thumb and forefinger about 1/4 inch apart) to being a true coffee snob, meaning that we grind our beans fresh daily bot don't roast them ourselves! No Instant (regardless of the technique used to manufacture it) is acceptable.

 

That being said, this is our routine. When I wake up (I'm the early riser in the family) I go to the IC and bring a cup of brewed coffee for myself and a cappuccino for DW (coffee card) back to the cabin. At breakfast, I pass on the coffee and she does drink a cup of reconstituted syrup. No coffee with or after other meals in the buffet or DR. All other coffee is from the IC.

 

Works for us. YMMV.

 

 

Shalom, Andy.

You're absolutely right. What I should have done was left my bet on the Don't pass, but say "I'm betting $100 on the Pass Line" that way I can not lose. Even though my chips would be on the Don't Pass, I announced that I was betting the pass line and the dealers would have to pay me no matter which way the dice rolled.

 

Sorry, but after 12 years as a dice dealer and supervisor I go by one rule and one rule ONLY. "The chips play as they lay."

Can't do what you suggested (I know you are joking). That's why "No Call Bets" is printed on the layout. And if the dealer had said "That's a bet" and didn't check to see that the bet was IN FACT put down, he should be fired.

No superstitions, but I do have a rule: keep my eyes open and my mouth shut.

I lived the first 50 years of my life in NY and spend a week or so there before or after cruises or other vacations when possible. When I saw the title of this thread I had to Google the word HoHo - was not used in 1990 when I moved away!

 

Ob OT - I agree fully with the Circle Line suggestion.

 

Shalom, Andy.

To my knowledge, Princess does not ask for SS numbers, nor send a W2-G (t's not a 1099) to the IRS. My understanding is that although the ship is not US flagged, the corporation running the cruise is a US corporation, and the casinos are probably US corporations as well. In addition, for US citizens, income earned outside the US from a foreign source is taxable by the US as well, but there are all kinds of exemptions, mainly to solve the problem of double taxation. This is actually quite complex.

 

On RCI you can get a statement from the casino of your win/lose amounts to offset the winnings with your losses.

 

Why one company does this and not another is a mystery to me. But I am not a lawyer (or a tax accountant either).

 

Shalom from Tel Aviv. Andy.

1st time cruiser, but have won quite a bit online....plan on bringing laptop if some downtime. I am also more interested in checking out St Martin casinos. Anyone have a favorite casino there?

Since you are cruising for the first time, please let me point out a couple of things. I'm not sure that playing online will be very successful on a cruise: the shipboard internet connection is very slow - it goes through a satellite, so think of it as running at dialup modem speed. Also, shipboard internet is not cheap by any means. For example, on Princess ships, the cheapest package costs 40 cents per minute (250 minutes for $100). This rate is about equivalent to the house edge playing blackjack at $100 per hand!

 

When the ship is at sea, the casino will be open for much of the day - typically noon to 3 AM or so. It's closed when the ship is in port, but then you can often fins a fast hotspot for connection. But why pass your port time on the Internet?

 

Good kuck and shalom. Andy.

Best we ever did aboard ship was to win the amount of our cruise for the two of us - about 4K - on RCI Splehour OTS. DW (blackjack) and I (blackjack and craps) pool our funds daily so it's a little hard to tell who won and who lost how much.

 

Shalom, Andy.

Blackjack was $10 min except for a few special hours of $6 because they now have the $2 virtual blackjack machines. There was also a roulette table $5 inside $25 outside. There were two craps tables and one was empty most of the time.

Boy oh Boy! Minimums getting higher and higher by the day. $25 x 32 spins/hr x 5.26% = $42.11/hr expected loss!! I guess someone has to pay for Central Park. :D:D

You won't get me NEAR the Oasis (or the Dream or whatever its name is).

Hey guys, my take on the Doey-Dont is this. Every 1980 come outs you will lose one unit (lose 28 on the pass, win 27 on the don't). Very low house edge there, but you have no chance - ZERO, ZIP, ZILCH to win ANYTHING!!! Long run or short, one comeout or 100,000. No bet will make you a cent.

 

It's like watching a porn movie alone instead of being with your girlfriend. No profit in it.

 

What you do get is a chance to play the odds, basically without the weight of the flat bet pulling you down. If that's what you want, go for it!

 

Shalom, Andy.

AndyTheK:

 

I was really considering the Odds part of the Don't bets. Why add them to my flat bet at all ? When I would be risking more $$$ for less payoff $$$ with the Odds part added to my Flat bet?

 

And on the Come Out Roll; Doesn't the Don't Pass bet WIN, if 2 or 3 is rolled ? ( Just as the passline bets LOSE if 2,3, or 12 is rolled ? On a come out roll?)

 

"Risking more money for less payoff" Yes, but you will win more often than you will lose. On the average EXACTLY balances out!

 

Yes, the don't wins on 2 and 3, and pushes on 12. That is factored in as well to get the published house advantage. I just didn't mention it.

 

Shalom, Andy.

I think I know the answer to this but wanted to ask any way. What happens when you put your bet in the Come/Don't Come area and:

 

1) the point that's been established is made?

 

2) 7 comes up?

 

3) 2, 3, 11, or 12?

 

Also....

 

I've been reading John Patrick’s "Advanced Craps" in an attempt to work on my money management skills and gain a few simple and successful betting strategies. Up till now I've been a novice player with the attitude that I'm just playing for fun. Normally I stick to pass line with odds, a couple place bets... and occasionally a few crazy bets (mostly for the dealers).

 

From what I've learned lately my plan is to try out three main strategies on our upcoming Riviera cruise and see how they compare.

 

First, is a regression system of placing the 6 & 8, bypassing the come-out roll accompanied with a up and out variation. Example: Place 6 & 8 for 12 each, after the first hit go to 6$ each 6 & 8. After the second hit go to 22 inside, after 2 hits on any of those numbers, take down the 5 & 9, after one more hit on either the 6 or 8, take them down.

 

The second one I think I'll try (on the nights that they offer more than single odds) would be pass line max odds, two come bets max odds. Patrick doesn't like this strategy because of not having control over the numbers that come up, but like you guys were talking about, getting true odds is the best bet in the casino from the standpoint of lowering the house edge as much as possible.

 

The third one that I want to give a try I learned from Scoblette in one of his books (recommended by Yo-11) is a Doey/Don't hedge system that seems a little more complicated and I don't know if I trust cruise ship dealers to follow it. I may do better waiting for my next Vegas trip to try this one out, but it looks like a sound strategy. He also recommends a 5 count system that limits losses due to point & immediate 7-out's.

 

All that to say... What are your opinion's of the strategys I'm looking at? Are there pros or cons that I haven’t looked at?

 

Thanks,

Jason

 

First part: A come is the same as the comeout on a pass. Doesn't matter that there is a point for the shooter, even if you are the shooter. In other words

 

1) Your come bet goes up into that number (which up to now was the point for pass bettors).

 

2) On 7 your come wins even money.

 

3a) On 11 you win even money

3b) 2,3,12 yo lose

 

Don't come is exactly opposite,. except 12 is a push.

 

In case 1, the table (shooter) is now "coming out", and odds are by default off (not working) on that roll. So, you won't add the odds bet until a point is established for the table. If unsure of what to do, the dealer will help you. Watch how the dealers work - they will pay the front line, take the don't pass bets, pay any place/buy bets (yes they are ALLOWED on the point!) pay the field if applicable, and finally, move your come bet up to its spot on the layout.

 

Something to look for: if you make a bet in the come box, and one of your already working come numbers with odds hits, the presumption is that you want to keep the odds live, and make another come bet. The dealer will give you the winnings and manage the new bet/odds. This is called "off and on". Sweet words to hear!

 

Second part: Whatever floats your boat (pun intentional). I personally don't see why people use complex strategies. There's no reason to believe that when a table is hot it will turn cold on the next roll (so much for "regression"). Nor is there a reason to believe a cold table will turn hot on the next roll. So much for "progression." As for hedging strategies, if it makes you feel better, go ahead, but a sucker bet is still a sucker bet no matter what the reason for your placing it. I toke the dealers direct.

 

In the long run, no system ever invented changes the house advantage one bit. Just my two cents.