Casino question for Freedom

[LindaJSteele]

We are leaving in a week for the Freedom, and we'd like to know about the blackjack tables in the casino. Do they still have $5 tables for regular BJ? If so, how many? Any info you could provide would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Joedog]

Linda,

 

I guess I wont be the only person from the Roll Call playing Blackjack next Saturday night.

 

Hope it's not too crowded or smokey.

 

Joe(dog)

[LindaJSteele]

I'm with you there - guess I'll see you before that at the meet and greet:)

 

I posted this question to Host Mach on his "Got One of Those Questions" then he was MIA for a while. He's back, and he said he'd try to find out, but so far...nothing. I've been reading that the fleet is going to do away with the $5 tables, and I like to play those. My DH doesn't really care; he'll play regardless. You'll see him there A LOT!

[Jeffbhhs]

We are leaving in a week for the Freedom, and we'd like to know about the blackjack tables in the casino. Do they still have $5 tables for regular BJ? If so, how many? Any info you could provide would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

I am going on the Freedom on the 3rd, but from my experience with other Carnival ships the majority of tables were set at $5 with a few set at $10... On the first day after you get further from land they will even do $3 tables during the low limit specials...

[Ratt]

We were on the Ecstasy last week and all the BJ tables we always $10, The 3 Card Poker and Caribbean Stub where $5, while the one craps table was $10.

 

Have to share a nice story about this last trip.

 

On the last day of the cruise (fun day at sea), we headed to the casino about 10:30AM. The DW wanted to play her favorite game which is roulette, while I want to play my favorite which is craps but the craps table wasn’t open yet, so I played roulette with the DW for about thirty minutes until the craps table opened.

 

I got to the craps table at the same time as a gentleman I had meet the night before at the table. We both bought in and I threw the dice fist. We both made a little while I threw the dice, but when he got them, he rolled for a good twenty minutes, and I made a good amount of money during that time. I ended up playing at the table for about two hours and when it was all said and done, I walked away with a couple hundred more than what I started with.

 

The DW and I ate lunch, went to the pook, snacked, got ready for dinner (we love to get dressed up), ate sushi, then headed to the casino. When I got to the craps table, the guy I had been playing with was still there. I walked up to him and when I looked down at the chip racks I was shocked to see that he now had four plus sections of $5 chips, two sections of $25 chips and half a section of $100 chips. I bought in and I played for about an hour and broke even.

 

We had late seating which started at 8:15 and due to the fact that we had made friends with seven of our table mates early in the cruise, we would be one of the last tables to leave the dining room each night and this night was no exception. We left the dining room around 10:30 and as you might have guessed, we headed to the casino.

 

Once we made our way into the casino, I headed to the craps table and was surprised to see that guy still playing. He had been at that same table since around 11:00 AM. He now had one section of $5 chips, but had six sections of $25 chips and one and half sections of $100 chips. I played at the table until 12:00 AM. I cashed out with $125 more than I started with so I was going to bed and ending the cruise on the positive side. The wife win enough to pay for the cruise, the sign and sail account, and still have some left over.

 

The best part of this story happened the next morning when we were disembarking. We were off the ship and in the custom’s line when I saw the guy that had spent all the time at the craps table. I walked over, said hi and told him I had enjoyed playing with him. He asked how I did and I told him I made a couple hundred dollars. I in turn asked him how he did and he responded that he won $17,500. I asked how much he had bought in for and he said $500. Now that is a great cruise!

 

Interestingly, he won enough money that he had to declare it on his customs form.

[krisnme]

Nice story Ratt!, now I just need to learn how to play craps! speaking of which, are there any lessons in the casino for any of the games?

[LindaJSteele]

I am going on the Freedom on the 3rd, but from my experience with other Carnival ships the majority of tables were set at $5 with a few set at $10... On the first day after you get further from land they will even do $3 tables during the low limit specials...

 

I had asked about this because we have noticed lately that the $5 are few and far between. The answer from Host Mach was that the "guidance" given to casinos is to have 1 "fun 21" table, 1 "face up" table, and 1 regular table at $5. The rest will start at $10 and be adjusted up or down accordingly. On our last cruise in April, there were 2 $5 tables all week that were always full while the $10 ones sat empty. I asked about it and was told that they are going to go to $10 minimum fleet-wide eventually. They never adjusted down, and as a result, they lost a lot of money by people leaving the casino because there was just no place to play.

[cawagner]

I am going on the Freedom on the 3rd, but from my experience with other Carnival ships the majority of tables were set at $5 with a few set at $10... On the first day after you get further from land they will even do $3 tables during the low limit specials...

 

We didnt see any BJ tables under $5 and we spent quite a bit of time in the casino ;):cool:

[Alegeeter]

I think this is fleetwide, but I know it is for the Freedom at least:

 

Table minimums vary per sailing based on the volume of players. On the first night, every table was $5 ( I think there was one $3 table) to reel players in.

 

The following days the minimums went up - and I they stayed at $10 all cruise (with one $25 table).

 

So depending on the number of gambling addicts on your cruise, they may or may not be $5 tables for the whole cruise. HOWEVER, the first night, there will be, so play as much as possible then!

 

Most importantly, have fun win or lose! The casino staff on the Freedom was incredible in January, so much fun. Say hi to Maria and Jelena!

[vacruisin]

Linda,

 

I guess I wont be the only person from the Roll Call playing Blackjack next Saturday night.

 

Hope it's not too crowded or smokey.

 

Joe(dog)

 

Linda and Joe...count me also as another roll call member that will be playing blackjack next week. However, Brandy has me on a strict casino budget of $200.00 for the entire week so you may not see me in there after the first night! :eek::o:)

 

We'll see you guys at the meet 'n greet!!!!!

 

Terry

[mj]

When on the Liberty in May, guess there weren't any gamblers on that cruise. The first night all of the tables were $10 with one $25 table. Slowly, throughout the cruise, more $5 tables began to show up. By the last few days of the cruise, all were $5 with one $10 table.

 

Since we were told that that singles have to pay 200% for 1As in order to maximize revenue, this move at the blackjack table seems to be the same step. However, to me, it looks like they lost a lot of revenue the first 3 nights of the cruise, because the blackjack tables were the emptiest that I have ever seen on a Carnival cruise. Most of the time with the exception of the Paradise cruise, the casino always seems to be very active on Carnival.

 

It seems with the feedback on this thread is, if they are gamblers on the cruise, you will see a lot of $10 tables. I take a certain amount of money to play blackjack and is my favorite game with slots being the next. What's next, minimum of $1 to play slots. Didn't mean to give Carnival any new ideas.

 

If this continues, the amount of revenue Carnival makes off of me in the casino, and I do make a contribution on every cruise, will become a thing of the past or just Carnival making less money.

[MrCo9]

Nice story Ratt!, now I just need to learn how to play craps! speaking of which, are there any lessons in the casino for any of the games?

I don't think they offer lessons, best way to learn is when your $$ is on the table, then you'll pay attention. WizardOfOdds.com has a good free online game, but you need to know how to play, it just allows you to practice different systems.

 

If it's slow the dealers can try and help you. Tip them if they are friendly and helpful.

[LindaJSteele]

Nice story Ratt!, now I just need to learn how to play craps! speaking of which, are there any lessons in the casino for any of the games?

 

Actually they usually have free gaming lessons on the first day; look for the advertisement in the casino.

[Ratt]

Nice story Ratt!, now I just need to learn how to play craps! speaking of which, are there any lessons in the casino for any of the games?

 

I just checked the Fun Times for this past cruise, and on the the first night they listed "Free Gaming Lessons - Go from beginner to sharpshooter! - 5:00pm - Casino, 9 Fwd"

[krisnme]

I was thinking of the lessons for my 20yo nephew, not a lot of activities for a guy that age onboard so may be a good chance to get him in shape for Vegas when he is 21! my 18 yo son is already a poker genius so he can fund the rest of us!

[kentuckycruiser57]

yes they do, but most of the time there is only one table open. I just got off the Freedom last week and none of the tables were overly used. Wasn't as many in the casinos as in the past.