Free playing cards available on Princess??

[jajohnson]

On all of our past cruises (before last October) we have been able to get free playing cards on board. Last October on the Emerald we were told that there were no free cards any more, they had to be purchased for $1/deck (and only if used decks were available from the casino). The reason given was that no one ever returned the cards (who wants to play with used cards, not knopwing who has handled them?) Can anyone verify if this is in fact the case? Just want to know so we can buy cards locally in Sydney before boarding the Sappire in October.

 

Thanks......

 

John

[btrojanoski]

In January on the Grand Princess they told us that there were no more free cards and we had to buy them used at the casino....first time this has happened since we started cruising Princess many years ago.

 

Barry

[Richie2pies]

Just another cutback.

[Loonbeam]

Actually, shared heavy use items are no longer allowed under most norovirus containment rules (think about how cards are passed around and handled), so once handled they really can't go back into a general use pool (btw, you will notice if there is a norovirus outbreak the card tables in the casino may be shut down as they can't be disinfected like the slots).

 

Once away from the card room, the ship has no idea what they have come into contact with so they can't be used. By selling used casino cards for $1, that eliminates some risk.

 

Based on an earlier thread, I checked into books. Apparently the paper type used for pages is not as conductive to viral spread, but the glossy paper covers need to be disinfected on return.

[caribill]

Actually, shared heavy use items are no longer allowed under most norovirus containment rules (think about how cards are passed around and handled), so once handled they really can't go back into a general use pool (btw, you will notice if there is a norovirus outbreak the card tables in the casino may be shut down as they can't be disinfected like the slots).

 

Once away from the card room, the ship has no idea what they have come into contact with so they can't be used. By selling used casino cards for $1, that eliminates some risk.

 

 

 

Seems to me selling used cards does not eliminate any risk, but instead increases risk.

[paul929207]

We got two free packs of cards on the Ocean in May

[1 HappyCruiser]

I don't remember if it was on the Grand (Jan) or Emerald (May) but the cards were free at the time and there were asking people to turn them in at the end of the cruise. I guess this has stopped & they're charging for them now.

Any way to make a buck I suppose.

[wizard-of-roz]

$1.00 for a deck cards is more than reasonable.

[Ibrasu]

Last month on The Grand we had to pay $2 - the cards were the sort with indentations which we presumed were to enable their use in the machines on the casino tables ......

[pegpowell]

I saw that the Bingo cards are no longer the kind that push back the spot, instead they sell you a marker for $1.

[wizard-of-roz]

I saw that the Bingo cards are no longer the kind that push back the spot, instead they sell you a marker for $1.

 

I have more of those darn markers at home. Does the color matter, I'll bring them from home?

[pegpowell]

I doubt it, lots of people were just using ball point pens to mark.

[Loonbeam]

Not as much because the sold cards are likely to stay within the same group of players. The larger risk is if someone with the virus uses the cards, returns them to the desk, then another group takes the same cards, and so on.

 

Seems to me selling used cards does not eliminate any risk, but instead increases risk.

[DiTomCruisers]

$1 per pack sounds OK to me. I just bought a 2 pack of bicycles for $6...

[Mindy43]

I have more of those darn markers at home. Does the color matter, I'll bring them from home?

 

I bought a bingo marker once on a Princess cruise and I bring the same marker back on each cruise that we take! Color doesn't matter at all.

[KreinKrunker]

The free ones can be bought on ebay all the time. Might be one reason they no longer give them away.

[piper28]

There's no free cards left because they have to have enough to give out for trivia prizes, since that seems to be the only thing they give away for prizes now :).

[Putterdude]

While it varies from ship to ship, for the most part playing cards are no longer free.:( Another cut back...just like the post cards of the ships.

[caribill]

Not as much because the sold cards are likely to stay within the same group of players. The larger risk is if someone with the virus uses the cards, returns them to the desk, then another group takes the same cards, and so on.

 

The risk is that whoever used them before they were sold to you may have been sick.

[fairground11]

Last month on The Grand we had to pay $2 - the cards were the sort with indentations which we presumed were to enable their use in the machines on the casino tables ......

 

 

the indentations are for security reasons,it stops you trying to slip in a card on the tables when playing blackjack or let it ride or whatever.

 

the ones on the casino tables have no indentations so they would stick out like a sore thumb if you tried slipping 1 in

[Ibrasu]

Thanks Fairground11 .... never thought of that!

[unboringuy]

Free cards, to keep, were available in the library on the Sapphire earlier this year.

[wizard-of-roz]

I bought a bingo marker once on a Princess cruise and I bring the same marker back on each cruise that we take! Color doesn't matter at all.

 

 

Yippee! I know the odds are against us.....but, I love Bingo. I'm going to make a really fine older person! Oh! Wait! I already am!!!! :rolleyes:

[wizard-of-roz]

the indentations are for security reasons,it stops you trying to slip in a card on the tables when playing blackjack or let it ride or whatever.

 

the ones on the casino tables have no indentations so they would stick out like a sore thumb if you tried slipping 1 in

 

It never ceases to amaze me how careful one has to be to keep the "cheaters" out.

I wasn't born yesterday but still to try and stay a step ahead of the "criminal mind" is an industry all in itself!!!!

[teripp]

Saw cards for sale in the gift shop but I always have a pack of cards in any suitcase I have no biggy. But makes sense that no more free cards with the virusus going around.

Ter