2 questions about the Epic

[jimice87]

Hi everyone,

 

My wife and I are going on the Epic next month and I would like to know if there is a blackjack machine. There was one on the Gem in December 2013.

 

 

Also, do you know how much cost a couple spa pass for the week on this ship ?

 

Thank you for the info.

[N747KT]

Hi everyone,

 

My wife and I are going on the Epic next month and I would like to know if there is a blackjack machine. There was one on the Gem in December 2013.

 

 

Also, do you know how much cost a couple spa pass for the week on this ship ?

 

Thank you for the info.

 

I was on epic in March of this year 2104, I did not see any video black jack machines, just regular ol' human dealers. I do not recall the price of the spa, however I think it was 200.00/wk per person, but I may be incorrect. :confused:

[Rhea98]

The spa passes were listed on Day 2 Daily as Unlimited Deluxe cruise pass for $199. each. A total of 120.

Then, in the same Daily, this

Edited November 24, 2014 by Rhea98

[jimice87]

Thank you.

 

Anybody else have seen a blackjack machine on the Epic ?

[millineumwoman]

No I didn't see one last week saw poker ones and a lot of 1 cent machines . But there are a few machines that u can change up the games on. And I would have loved to play black jack on the machine. Oh there are also games on your stateroom tv

[clean1owner]

Why would you want to have a Blackjack machine? It is just another slot machine under a different disguise, with a payback somewhere between 70% and 80%. This translates to a built in loss of 20%-30%, or a house edge of 15% and up.

You are better off playing live Blackjack with a 3% house edge.

[stoneman56]

Why would you want to have a Blackjack machine? It is just another slot machine under a different disguise, with a payback somewhere between 70% and 80%. This translates to a built in loss of 20%-30%, or a house edge of 15% and up.

You are better off playing live Blackjack with a 3% house edge.

 

+1^^^

Never understand why you see so many people playing video B/J, you might as well play slots with the chance of winning far more money.

[SuiteTraveler]

If you want spa passes, arrive early and go to the spa immediately upon boarding because they sell out really fast on the Epic. The spa is, by the way, AMAZING!

[johnql]

Why would you want to have a Blackjack machine? It is just another slot machine under a different disguise, with a payback somewhere between 70% and 80%. This translates to a built in loss of 20%-30%, or a house edge of 15% and up.

You are better off playing live Blackjack with a 3% house edge.

 

+1^^^

Never understand why you see so many people playing video B/J, you might as well play slots with the chance of winning far more money.

Just to set the record straight, the machine that the OP is asking about is NOT a "slot machine under a different disguise". The machine deals actual blackjack, albeit with slightly modified rules that gives the house a bigger edge. That said, the odds are nowhere near as bad as most slot machines.

 

Why play this machine? One - on the ships that have it, it's located in the Spinnaker Lounge where smoking is not permitted (huge plus for people who can't stand the smoke in the casino). Two - you can play for as little as $5 a hand (harder to find a seat in the casino at the $5 table). Three - despite some of the rule changes, you still get paid 3:2 on BJ whereas the casino tables pay only 6:5 on the low-minimum tables.

 

If you play basic strategy on this machine, you can probably play for a considerable amount of time without losing your shirt. With a modicum of luck, you might even come out ahead. So, yes, the odds are against you but that's the case with any casino game. IMO, this particular game offers decent entertainment value with a relatively low house edge, estimated on one web site as under 1%.

[amydandrea]

This looks so fun!! Do they still have the roulette game on gem as well?!

 

 

 

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[amydandrea]

Btw I never saw this game on Epic 😀

 

 

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[clean1owner]

Just to set the record straight, the machine that the OP is asking about is NOT a "slot machine under a different disguise". The machine deals actual blackjack, albeit with slightly modified rules that gives the house a bigger edge. That said, the odds are nowhere near as bad as most slot machines.

 

Why play this machine? One - on the ships that have it, it's located in the Spinnaker Lounge where smoking is not permitted (huge plus for people who can't stand the smoke in the casino). Two - you can play for as little as $5 a hand (harder to find a seat in the casino at the $5 table). Three - despite some of the rule changes, you still get paid 3:2 on BJ whereas the casino tables pay only 6:5 on the low-minimum tables.

 

If you play basic strategy on this machine, you can probably play for a considerable amount of time without losing your shirt. With a modicum of luck, you might even come out ahead. So, yes, the odds are against you but that's the case with any casino game. IMO, this particular game offers decent entertainment value with a relatively low house edge, estimated on one web site as under 1%.

 

 

Sure it does. Just like video poker deals actual poker hands.

[johnql]

Sure it does. Just like video poker deals actual poker hands.

If you have proof that these types of machines are rigged (other than having built-in house edges), I'd love to hear it.

[jimice87]

Thank you all for these answers.

 

Because there is no BJ machine, I might spend more time in the spa! :-)

 

I'll make sure to buy my $200pp pass quickly!

[garycarla]

Sorry,but the VP and the BJ machines deal real hands. The payouts suck compared to table, but still better than slots. I should say the "rules" on BJ suck, and pay tables are poor on VP.

 

I get why people play them,even in the casino. Less stress dealing with other people at a table.

[asubaru]

Sorry,but the VP and the BJ machines deal real hands. The payouts suck compared to table, but still better than slots. I should say the "rules" on BJ suck, and pay tables are poor on VP.

 

I get why people play them,even in the casino. Less stress dealing with other people at a table.

 

What are the rules on BJ that you saw? I ask because, sometimes, they are better than

live BK.

 

I disagree about "poor" pay tables, but my experience was on the Epic and although not optimum, they weren't poor. This was on some $1, $2, $5 denominations.

 

What ships have you played on and what were the denominations payouts? I am not expecting you to remember each game and such, I am trying to get an idea if the Epic was different in some way(s).

[johnql]

What are the rules on BJ that you saw? I ask because, sometimes, they are better than live BK.

I have played the BJ machine but I can't claim to remember all the rules personally. However, I found the following on a web site and, reading it over, it appears to coincide with what I can recall.

 

MINIMUM BET PER HAND IS ONE CREDIT, WHICH IS FIVE DOLLARS. YOU CAN BET MULTIPLE CREDITS. I AM NOT SURE WHAT THE HOUSE LIMIT IS BUT I ASSUME THERE IS ONE!

 

THE GAME USES SIX DECKS WHICH ARE SHUFFLED AFTER EACH HAND.

 

IT PAYS 3-2 ON BLACKJACKS.

 

INSURANCE IS OFFERED.

 

IF THE DEALER HAS AN UPCARD OF TEN-VALUE HE/SHE DOES PEEKS TO SEE IF THE HOLE CARD IS AN ACE (WHICH WOULD MAKE THE HAND A BLACKJACK). THEREFORE IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO DOUBLE DOWN OR SPLIT AGAINST THAT TEN-VALUE, WIND UP WITH A 21, AND LOSE TO A BLACKJACK.

 

THE DEALER HITS SOFT 17.

 

YOU CAN DOUBLE DOWN WITH ANY TWO CARDS.

 

YOU CAN DOUBLE DOWN AFTER A SPLIT.

 

YOU CAN ONLY SPLIT TWO ORIGINAL MATCHING-VALUE CARDS (PICTURES INCLUDED). IN OTHER WORDS RE-SPLITTING IS NOT PERMITTED.

 

YOU CAN SPLIT ACES BUT ARE RESTRICTED TO DRAWING A SINGLE CARD ON EACH SPLIT ACE.

[stoneman56]

The dealer hitting on soft 17 would put me off straight away. I can not remember any B/J table on any NCL ship I've played on paying 6/5 B/J always been 3/2 (but then again I wouldnt have been playing on that table lol

[clean1owner]

If you have proof that these types of machines are rigged (other than having built-in house edges), I'd love to hear it.

 

 

They are allowed at our local casinos, as well as Video Craps and Video Roulette.

 

By contract, to be allowed in Minnesota casinos, they have to be certified a slot machine, as no other form of Craps or Roulette are permissible. Period

 

Part of the certification process requires a minimum payback, as well as jackpot payoff. That is why you find banks of slot machines all tied in to a progressive jackpot. One payoff covers all the machines in that bank.

 

I never claimed the machines were rigged, I simply pointed out they were governed by the same regulations as slot machines, thereby making them the equivalent of a slot machine.

[johnql]

The dealer hitting on soft 17 would put me off straight away. I can not remember any B/J table on any NCL ship I've played on paying 6/5 B/J always been 3/2 (but then again I wouldnt have been playing on that table lol

I hate to say it but you won't be playing any BJ on NCL any time soon. They've been hitting soft 17 for years. As for 6/5 BJ, that's the payout now on the low min tables. You only get 3/2 on $25+ tables.

[johnql]

Why would you want to have a Blackjack machine? It is just another slot machine under a different disguise, with a payback somewhere between 70% and 80%. This translates to a built in loss of 20%-30%, or a house edge of 15% and up.

You are better off playing live Blackjack with a 3% house edge.

 

I never claimed the machines were rigged, I simply pointed out they were governed by the same regulations as slot machines, thereby making them the equivalent of a slot machine.

Your original post indicated that the payback was somewhere between 70% and 80%. I would love to know where you get that number. Being governed by the same regulations as slot machines (which you never pointed out BTW) doesn't automatically lead to that conclusion IMO. The rules for the game that I posted gives the house an edge that's much closer to a live BJ table.

[retiring soon]

HI all!

 

Oh I love those machines & sure hope Epic gets them before next Christmas.

I know Oasis & Allure have them. I think the minimum bid was $3 on them.

 

~ Jo ~ :)

[BrownCalico]

There are NOT Blackjack machines like the photo you posted on Epic. There ARE multigame machines that have options of poker, keno, etc and include blackjack. Minimum of $1 bet per hand. :-)

[PROUD MARY 638]

Have you come across any loose machines on the epic? locations?

:rolleyes:

[mitsugirly]

I don't play black jack but I do know that I have seen this machine on one of the NCL ships...I just wish I could remember which one. Maybe the Pearl? Someone else mentioned it's not in the casino and that is correct for the one that I did see. It was in Spinnaker or one of the places in the front of the ship. :confused: I was trying to look through some of my pictures to see if I could find it, but I have way too many pictures of each ship. LOL :p